The inactivation of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a: 3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1) by binding of mutagenic pyrolysate to fractions of microorganisms (their desmutagenic and bio-antimutagenic activity) was investigated. All strains bound Trp-P-1 effectively, but Glu-P-1 to a lesser extent. The Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) could bind about 10-20 micrograms/mg of Trp-P-1 more than the Gram-positive bacteria (GPB), and about 50-60 micrograms/mg more than the yeasts. The cell wall skeletons of all strains tested had great binding ability, but in the cytoplasm of all strains tested it was lower. The peptidoglycan, outer membrane, and glucan isolate from the cell wall skeletons showed the highest binding ability to Trp-P-1. The cell wall skeletons of the tested strains greatly inhibited the mutagenicity induced by Trp-P-1, and to a lower extent that of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx). Although the cultured broth and solution of cells extracted by phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) showed antimutagenicity against Trp-P-1, this activity was lower than the binding of Trp-P-1 to the cells. The cultured broth and freeze-dried cytoplasms of yeast cells showed bio-antimutagenicity towards Trp-P-1, but those of all bacteria tested did not.