INHIBITOR OF POLY(ADP-RIBOSE)TRANSFERASE POTENTIATES THE RECOMBINOGENIC BUT NOT THE MUTAGENIC ACTION OF ALKYLATING-AGENTS IN SOMATIC-CELLS INVIVO IN DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER

The effect on somatic mutations and recombination by 3-aminobenzamide (3-ABA), an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) transferase, was studied in the somatic wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster. 3-ABA did not exert any effect by itself, but caused a strong increase of wing spots in combination with methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and ethylnitroso-urea (ENU). MMS and ENU differ in their mutagenic effects, ENU causing a much higher frequency of point mutations than MMS. The enhancement by 3-ABA of chemically induced wing spots was totally eliminated by the introduction of a heterozygous inversion. It can be concluded that 3-ABA interacted with the chemical mutagens for the induction of somatic recombination, but had no effect on point mutations or intragenic events. © 1990 Oxford University Press.