Effect of methyl substitution on mutagenicity of 2-aminodipyrido

The mutagenicities of 2-aminodipyrido [1,2-a:3',2'-d] imidazole (Glu-P-2, a mutagen obtained from pyrolysate of glutamic acid) and six methyl substituted derivatives of Glu-P-2 were tested with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 with S-9 mix. Glu-P-1 (6-Me-Glu-P-2) was the strongest mutagen to TA98 and TA100. 3-Me-Glu-P-2 was weakest. The presence of a methyl group, and its position were shown to affect the mutagenicity significantly.