Role of mutations of the piwi and aub genes in the radiation-induced response in Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract

In this study, for the first time, information was obtained on the sensitivity of animals with dysfunction of the piwi and aub genes to chronic irradiation in low doses (20 sGy) and the manifestation of a radioadaptive response in the analyzed mutants. The reaction of mutant genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster to irradiation was analyzed in terms of lifespan, fertility, and DNA damage. The experimental results showed that females with the piwi mutation exhibited an adaptive effect of chronic irradiation in low dose (20 sGy) in response to subsequent exposure in dose 60 Gy. Chronic low-dose irradiation did not affect reproductive functions and the level of DNA damage in the gonads of individuals with dysfunction of the piwi and aub genes, but led to an increase in their lifespan. Thus, a functional decrease in some genes of the Argonaute family can modify the effects of irradiation with the formation of radioresistant traits in animals.

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About the authors

Elena A. Yushkova

Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science

Author for correspondence.
Email: ushkova@ib.komisc.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5580-2276

Institute of Biology

Russian Federation, Komi Republic, Syktyvkar; Kommunisticheskaya street, 28

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2. Fig. 1. Fertility of D. melanogaster individuals with mutations in the piwi and aub genes after chronic and acute irradiation. Differences are significant at *p < 0.05 compared to the control.

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3. Fig. 2. Survival curves of D. melanogaster individuals with mutations in the piwi and aub genes after chronic and acute irradiation. Differences are significant at *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001 compared to the control (Log-Rank test).

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