CAS 2541-69-7: 7-Methylbenz[a]anthracene

7-Methylbenz[a]anthracene is a carcinogenic agent that is activated by the cytochrome P450 system. It binds to the target tissue and induces skin papillomas in rats, which are then found to be associated with epoxides. 7-Methylbenz[a]anthracene can be used as a test compound for carcinogenesis, as it has been shown to induce rat liver microsomes to produce epoxide metabolites. This chemical can also be used to study the role of aromatic hydrocarbons in carcinogenesis because it has been shown to cause skin papillomas in rats. 7-Methylbenz[a]anthracene is able to bind and activate bacterial cells, but only at high concentrations. The binding of this chemical with DNA or RNA may lead to mutations that could lead to cancer.