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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
Published on: August 21, 2021
Interaction between gene repair and mobile elements-induced activity systems after low-dose irradiation
Elena Yushkova1, Vladimir Zainullin1
1a Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Science , Syktyvkar , Russia.
Purpose:
To analyze the role of mus-genes repair in system activation P-elements in Drosophila melanogaster induced by a chronic exposure to low doses.
Materials And Methods:
The materials were dysgenic individuals of Drosophila melanogaster with mutations in repair genes (mus101, mus205, mus304, mus308, mus309) and simultaneous transposition of mobile P-elements. The animals were exposed to a chronic irradiation in low doses (0.42 mGy/h). The reaction of animals was analyzed by the DNA damage rate in somatic cells ('Comet assay'), level of dominant lethal mutations, fecundity, and survival rate.
Results:
The combined action of the systems of post-replication, recombination repair (mus205, mus304), repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (mus304), and of the transposition activity of P-elements after a chronic irradiation in low doses was identified according to every study parameter. The other repair systems and their genes (mus101, mus308, and mus309) responded to action of only one factor (irradiation or mobile elements transposition).
Conclusion:
The obtained data significantly contribute to the knowledge on a new reaction of the mechanisms of organisms to a chronic irradiation in low doses.
Insights
DNA repair genes in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) show varied responses to chronic low-dose radiation and P-element activity. Some repair systems are activated by both factors, while others respond to only one.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- DNA repair mechanisms are crucial for maintaining genomic stability.
- Mobile genetic elements, like P-elements, can influence genome integrity.
- Understanding responses to low-dose radiation is vital for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of specific DNA repair genes (mus-genes) in Drosophila melanogaster.
- To analyze their involvement in P-element transposition under chronic low-dose radiation exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized dysgenic Drosophila melanogaster individuals with mutations in repair genes (mus101, mus205, mus304, mus308, mus309).
- Exposed flies to chronic low-dose irradiation (0.42 mGy/h) alongside mobile P-elements.
- Assessed DNA damage rate (Comet assay), dominant lethal mutations, fecundity, and survival rates.
Main Results:
- Identified combined action of post-replication, recombination repair (mus205, mus304), and DNA double-strand break repair (mus304) with P-element transposition under irradiation.
- Observed that other repair systems (mus101, mus308, mus309) responded to either irradiation or P-element transposition alone.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a novel organismal response to chronic low-dose irradiation.
- Highlighted the differential roles of DNA repair pathways in response to combined genotoxic stressors.
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