[The induction of mutations in 6-mercaptopurine resistance in Chinese hamster cells under the action of the recombinant plasmid pAins containing the human insulin gene].

The mutagenic activity of the pUC19 bacterial plasmid DNA and the pAins recombinant plasmid DNA carrying human insulin gene has been investigated. Both pUC19 and pAins plasmid DNAs have been shown to induce the gene mutations in hprt locus of Chinese hamster cell line. The high level of the gene mutations (similar to the indices of the gene mutations induced by the chemical mutagens) has been in the focus of attention. The conclusion has been made concerning impossibility to use pAins plasmid DNA in the diabetes mellitus gene therapy. It is necessary to test the mutagenic properties of the DNA molecules produced for gene therapy of human inherited diseases.