Abstract
Biological alkylating agents are chemicals that transfer alkyl groups to biologically important macromolecules under physiological conditions. Ross (1) has reviewed their general chemistry; Lawley (2) their reactions with nucleic acids. Table 16.1 lists the main classes of alkylating agent; each class is represented by one or several well-known mutagens. Cutting across this classification by structural group are differences in two properties whose role in mutagenicity has been much discussed. One is the type of alkyl group transferred, whether it is, e. g. a methyl or ethyl group or a more complex one like — CH2 COCH3. The other is the number of alkyl groups that a single molecule can donate. This property is called the ‘functionality’ of the compound. Thus, among the nitrogen mustards, H2N (CH2CH2Cl) is monofunctional, HN (CH2CH2Cl)2 is bifunctional, and N (CH2CH2Cl)3 is trifunctional. The term polyfunctional may be used for all compounds whose functionality is greater than one. It should be noted that the degree of functionality cannot be inferred simply from the number of alkyl groups carried by a compound. The alkyl alkanesulphonates, for example, are mono-functional, EMS donating only its ethyl group and MMS only one of its two methyl groups.
Published Version
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