Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), when incorporated into mouse liver microsomal membranes, selectively inhibits the mutagenesis of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ). Nine-week old female ICR mice were given (p.o.) 0.1 mL olive oil alone (control), 0.1 mL olive oil plus 0.1 mL linoleic acid, or 0.1 mL olive oil plus 0.1 mL CLA, twice weekly for four weeks. The animals were then sacrificed and liver S-9 fractions were prepared. Activation of IQ for mutagenesis by the liver S-9 from CLA-treated mice was significantly reduced in comparison wit liver S-9 from control or linolic acid-treated mice. By contrast, the activation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) and benzo[a] pyrene (BP) was unaffected. Hence, CLA incorporated into phospholipids may selectively affect cytochrome P450 isozymes responsible for activating IQ, but not those which activate BP or DMBA. The addition of free CLA or the methyl esters of CLA, linoleic acid, or oleic acid, to control S-9 inhibited the activation of all three mutagens (IQ, BP, and DMBA).