title: Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet) assay with plants: research on DNA repair and ecogenotoxicity testing.
abstract: Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis is currently used to investigate the cell response to genotoxic agents as well as to several biotic and abiotic stresses that lead to oxidative DNA damage. Different versions of Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis have been developed in order to expand the range of DNA lesions that can be detected and guidelines for their use in genetic toxicology have been provided. Applications of Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis in plants are still limited, compared to animal systems. This technique is now emerging as a useful tool in assessing the potential of higher plants as stable sensors in ecosystems and source of information on the genotoxic impact of dangerous pollutants. Another interesting application of Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis deals with Mutation Breeding or the combined use of irradiation and in vitro culture technique to enhance genetic variability in elite plant genotypes. SCGE, in combination with in situ detection of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) induced by γ-rays and expression analysis of both DNA repair and antioxidant genes, can be used to gather information on the radiosensitivity level of the target plant genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donà
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macovei
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buttafava
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carbonera
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balestrazzi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004249:DNA Damage; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D004247:DNA