3-phenyl-L-alanine

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro cytogenicity / chromosome aberration study in mammalian cells

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1993

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Photochemical decompositon of organic compounds in water after UV-irradiation: investigation of positive mutagenic effects

Author:

I. de Veer, H.-J. Moriske, H. Ridden

Year:

1994

Bibliographic source:

Toxicology Letters, 72 (1994), 113-119

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 479 (Genetic Toxicology: In Vitro Sister Chromatid Exchange Assay in Mammalian Cells)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of assay:

sister chromatid exchange assay in mammalian cells

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

3-phenyl-L-alanine

EC Number:

200-568-1

EC Name:

3-phenyl-L-alanine

Cas Number:

63-91-2

Molecular formula:

C9H11NO2

IUPAC Name:

phenylalanine

Method

Target gene:

no data

Species / strain

Species / strain / cell type:

Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79)

Additional strain / cell type characteristics:

not specified

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

2.00 mg/ml

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle(s)/solvent(s) used: purified water (testing with UV-radiation), DMSO (test assays without UV-radiation)

Controls

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

benzo(a)pyrene

other: Epichlorhydrine

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

For SCE-assay V79 Chinese hamster cells were grown in minimal essential medium (MEM) with Earle’s salts supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and antibiotics. Cells were treated with the test substance for 2.5 h. Chromosome preparation and staining were performed according to standard protocols. Epichlorhydrine (1.0; 0.5; 0.25 mM) and benzo(a)pyrene (0.08; 0.04; 0.02 mM) were used as positive controls with and without metabolic activation. For each experimental data point 25 second division metaphases were scored and the mean values of SCEs per 22 chromosomes were evaluated.
In the case of testing with UV-irradiation the compounds were dissolved in 1000 ml purified water. The samples were irradiated either by low- or high-pressure vapor UV lamps with a fluence of 2500 J/m2. UV-irradiation doses up to 10 times the doses for physical disinfection were used. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was added as organic solvent to the irradiated samples. The water phase was extracted using evaporation equipment and the remaining DMSO-phase contained the organic components. Recovery rates above 90% for each compound were determined by HPLC. In parallel experiments the organic compounds were directly dissolved in DMSO for test assays without UV-irradiation. All samples were tested for mutagenicity with SCE-test.

Results and discussion

Test results

Key result

Species / strain:

Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79)

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity

Positive controls validity:

valid

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

L-phenylalanine was examined in a sister chromatid exchange (SCE)-test (V79 cells) before and after UV-irradiation. Based on results in the SCE-test a mutagenic activity was not obtained for all L-phenylalanine samples, neither before nor after UV-irradiation.