V79 Chinese hamster cell lines genetically engineered to express rat CYP2B1, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and their parental cell lines V79-MZ, without acetyltransferase, and V79-NH, with acetyltransferase, were studied for chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchange induced by aflatoxin B1, cyclophosphamide, benzo[a]pyrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and dimethylnitrosamine. The parental V79 cell lines did not show clastogenic effects. Significant clastogenic effects were observed after an 18 h exposure to aflatoxin B1 and cyclophosphamide in CYP2B1 expressing cells, to benzo[a]pyrene in CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 expressing cells, to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and dimethylnitrosamine in cells, expressing CYP1A2 with or without acetyltransferase, and to cyclophosphamide in cells expressing both CYP1A2 and acetyltransferase. A significant sister chromatid exchange inducing effect was found after a 24 h exposure in each of the genetically engineered cell lines, except for benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in CYP2B1 expressing cells, and for benzo[a]pyrene in cells expressing both CYP1A2 and acetyltransferase. Thus, a battery of cell lines genetically engineered for metabolic competence may serve as a tool for investigating chromosomal changes induced by activated xenobiotics.