The relation between Ames test data and electronic structure for a series of benzidine derivatives investigated by using cluster analysis.

The dose-response curves of benzidine derivatives calculated from Ames test data were analyzed by combining the least-squares method with cluster analysis. The calculations of the electronic structures of various benzidine derivatives have at the same time been performed by using the CNDO/2 method. The cluster analysis was carried out on various parameters concerning the electronic structure, such as total electron density, frontier electron density, the energy level of HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital), and so on.

Classification of compounds by cluster analysis of Ames test data.

The dose-response curves for various compounds in the Ames test were analyzed by combining the least-squares method with cluster analysis. The following theoretical equation was employed: m(x) = (B + Sx)exp(-Tx), where m(x) is the number of revertants at the dose of x; B, the background number; S, the mutagenicity rate; and T, the toxicity rate. This equation is derived from a one-hit model modified to take account of the toxicity, and the parameters B, S and T are determined by applying the least-squares method for the fitting between theoretical and experimental dose-response curves with the use of the program package SALS (statistical analysis with least-squares fitting).