A clastogenicity study found that a 3-hour exposure to 8mM of 2,5-DMF induced significant increases in chromosome breaks and exchanges in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells without S9 metabolic activation. Preliminary studies using a murine in vitro erythroid micronucleus system suggested that 2,5-DMF is clastogenic to hematopoietic cells.

Results suggest that 2,5- Dimethylfuran is clastogenic to hematopoietic cells because of its ability to induce a significant increase in micronucleus formation even without metabolic activation. Further toxicological studies on 2,5-DMF should be conducted if it is to be considered a biofuel and produced in mass quantities.

—Fromowitz et al.

The researchers also said that their study further validated the novel in vitro cell culture system that captures the essential features of the in vivo mammalian micronucleus genotoxicity assay, thus enabling increased throughput and controlled studies on hematopoietic DNA damage response.

Resources

• Fromowitz, M. , et al. (2010) Studies on the Genotoxicity of 2,5-Dimethylfuran, a Potential Biofuel. Poster presented as part of the Society of Toxicology Annual National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010.