title: In vitro radiation induced alterations in heavy metals and metallothionein content in Plantago ovata Forsk.
abstract: Proton Induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) have been used to study the effects of gamma irradiation on heavy metal accumulation in callus tissue of Plantago ovata-an important cash crop of India. PIXE analysis revealed radiation-induced alteration in trace element profile during developmental stages of the callus of P. ovata. Subsequent experiments showed antagonism between Fe and Cu and also Cu and Zn and synergistic effect between Fe and Zn. FACS analysis showed significant induction of the metallothionein (MT) protein following gamma-irradiation, and maximum induction was noted at the 50-Gy absorbed dose. This indicated a progressive increment of MTs as a measure for protection against gamma-rays, to combat alteration in the homeostasis of heavy metals like Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Calcutta, 92, APC Road, Kolkata, 700009, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Debadutta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Anindita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Mathummal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sudarshan
authors.forename: Sarmistha Sen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Raychaudhuri
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007194:India; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010943:Plantago / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc