Analysis of Common Deletion (CD) and a novel deletion of mitochondrial DNA induced by ionizing radiation.
OBJECTIVE
In order to identify supportive evidence of radiation exposure to cells, we analyzed the relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and the induction of deletions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).


METHODS
Using human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2 and its derivatives, HepG2-A, -89 and -400, established after long term exposure to X-ray, mtDNA deletions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR after cells were subjected to radiation and genotoxic treatments.


RESULTS
Common Deletion (CD), the most extensively studied deletion of mtDNA, was induced within 24 h after exposure to 5 Gray (Gy) of X-rays and was associated with replication of mtDNA. CD became undetectable several days after the exposure due to the death of cells containing mitochondria within which CD had been induced. Furthermore, we found a novel mtDNA deletion that consisted of a 4934 base-pair deletion (4934del) between nucleotide position 8435 and 13,368. A lower dose of ionizing radiation was required to induce the 4934del than for CD and this was independent of the quality of radiation used and was not induced by treatments with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and other genotoxic reagents including bleomycin.


CONCLUSIONS
CD is induced by ionizing radiation, however, the amount of CD detected at a certain point in time after radiation exposure is dependent on the initial frequency of CD induced and the death rate of cells with mtDNA containing CD. The novel mtDNA deletion found in this study, therefore, will be used to determine whether cells were exposed to ionizing radiation.
Wang
Lu
L
Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Japan.
Kuwahara
Yoshikazu
Y
Li
Li
L
Baba
Taisuke
T
Shin
Ryong-Woon
RW
Ohkubo
Yasuhito
Y
Ono
Koji
K
Fukumoto
Manabu
M
D001483:Base Sequence; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D001761:Bleomycin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide