[StevenC]

Hello I have a question. How do you recognise a chemical that might be able to induce mutations in DNA. How do you know if a chemical can form a mutagenic metabolite, that can induce mutations in DNA. Do you know of literature describing this?

Additionally, I want to know if this molecule can change into a mutagenic metabolite:


And how? What reaction. Thanks.

[Albert]

Interesting question. I sincerely doubt you can foresee whether a molecule is mutagenic (I guess you are interested in human beings, because things are completely different in mice, sometimes).

There are classes of compounds which are known to induce mutations (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), but I believe these properties were discovered through observations on patients.

Not to mention metabolites: when you design a drug, you carry out time-consuming trials to assay that.

[Albert]

That molecule is amphetamine: it's a vicious drug of abuse, but it doesn't alter your DNA.

[StevenC]

According to recent research it may be highly carcinogenic in humans, due to conversion by human hepatic enzymes. So it may be carcinogenic in human, but not in rats.