title: Ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage response identified in marine mussels, Mytilus sp.
abstract: There is growing concern over the potential detrimental impact of ionizing radiation on natural biota. The mechanistic cause-and-effect impact of ionizing radiation has yet to be characterized in any aquatic species. Adopting an integrated approach, including radiochemical analysis of environmental samples, we evaluate molecular responses to ionizing radiation in the marine mussel, Mytilus edulis. These responses included analyses of RAD51 mRNA expression, a gene involved in the repair of DNA double strand breaks, and induction of DNA strand breaks using the comet assay, in samples collected from a site impacted by low level ionizing radiation discharges. Based on activities of the radionuclides measured in sediment and mussel tissue at the discharge site, external and internal dose rates were low, at ca. 0.61 μGyh(-1) and significantly lower than the generic (all species) "no effect" dose rate of 10 uGyh(-1), yet DNA strand breakage and RAD51 mRNA expression were both altered.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK.
authors.forename: Ohoud D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Alamri
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cundy
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: Awadhesh N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Jeanette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rotchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase