2-Amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) is a food-borne heterocyclic amine, so clarification of its mutational spectrum is important for evaluation of its carcinogenic risk to humans. The mutational spectrum of MeIQ was investigated in the liver and bone marrow of transgenic mice carrying the lacI gene. By PCR--single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing of the lacI gene, 81 and 61 mutations were identified in 80 and 59 mutants obtained from the liver and bone marrow respectively of three transgenic mice given food containing 300 p.p.m. MeIQ. In the liver, G-->T transversions were the most frequent, accounting for 46% of the total mutations, followed by G-->A transitions (25%). In the bone marrow, four types of mutations, G-->T transversions, G-->A transitions, complex mutations and one base deletions, each accounted for 21-23% of the total mutations. Of the total mutations, 10% were found at nucleotide 92 in the liver and at nucleotide 222 in the bone marrow. Analysis of 27 and 13 mutants from the liver and bone marrow respectively of control mice showed frequent G-->A transitions at CpG sites. These findings suggest a tissue-specific mechanism of mutagenesis.