Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Show Decreased Sensitivity to Additional Acute Irradiation

Abstract

Chronic ionising radiation exposure is a main consequence of radioactive pollution of the environment. The development of functional genomics approaches coupled with morphological and physiological studies allows new insights into plant adaptation to life under chronic irradiation. Using morphological, reproductive, physiological, and transcriptomic experiments, we evaluated the way in which Arabidopsis thaliana natural accessions from the Chernobyl exclusion zone recover from chronic low-dose and acute high-dose γ-irradiation of seeds. Plants from radioactively contaminated areas were characterized by lower germination efficiency, suppressed growth, decreased chlorophyll fluorescence, and phytohormonal changes. The transcriptomes of plants chronically exposed to low-dose radiation indicated the repression of mobile genetic elements and deregulation of genes related to abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, these chronically irradiated natural accessions showed higher tolerance to acute 150 Gy γ-irradiation of seeds, according to transcriptome and phytohormonal profiles. Overall, the lower sensitivity of the accessions from radioactively contaminated areas to acute high-dose irradiation may come at the cost of their growth performance under normal conditions.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Vicia cracca Responses to Chronic Radiation Exposure in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

“…The hubs of translational responses reflect the interconnection of photosynthetic responses and ribosomal proteins, suggesting profound changes in energy metabolism and translation. These results overlap with the transcriptomic data, further supporting the notion that a strategy for coping with chronic ionising radiation exposure involves the modulation of the photosynthesis rate, possibly for adjusting toxic ROS levels which are produced during energetic processes involving electron transport chains (ETCs), but also due to water radiolysis [2,25,26,28]. In order to describe a possible functional interconnection between the identified proteins, we performed an analysis with the STRING tool (Figure 5), using homologous proteins, suggesting profound changes in energy metabolism and translation.…”

“…In order to describe a possible functional interconnection between the identified proteins, we performed an analysis with the STRING tool (Figure 5), using homologous proteins, suggesting profound changes in energy metabolism and translation. These sults overlap with the transcriptomic data, further supporting the notion that a strat for coping with chronic ionising radiation exposure involves the modulation of the p tosynthesis rate, possibly for adjusting toxic ROS levels which are produced during en getic processes involving electron transport chains (ETCs), but also due to water radiol [2,25,26,28]. [29] for proteins with significantly different abundance tween contaminated and reference plots (homologous proteins of Medicago truncatula L.).…”

Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Gamma-, Electron, and Proton Irradiation on Transcriptomic Profile of Hordeum vulgare L. Seedlings: In Search for Molecular Contributors to Abiotic Stress Resilience

“…Photosynthesis is the main energy source for plants, and any abiotic stress affecting this process leads to a cascade of reactions to ensure the proper functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus, and ionising radiation is no exception [6]. We identified two genes, F2CWQ1 and A0A8I7BCP4, as transcription factors involved in photosynthesis, which are actively expressed under all types of radiation.…”

“…One of the most complex tasks in crop improvement is elucidating the signal transduction pathways and how they are activated and respond to different stressors [4]. As an evolutionarily ancient stress factor [5], ionising radiation (IR) is a promising tool for studying plant adaptation mechanisms to abiotic stress factors [6][7][8]. An important aspect of plant responses to IR is the activation of antioxidant defence and DNA repair mechanisms [9][10][11][12].…”

Correction: Podlutskii et al. Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Show Decreased Sensitivity to Additional Acute Irradiation. Plants 2022, 11, 3142

“…In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in "Figure 1. Map of the experimental plots (Babchin, Vygrebnaya Sloboda, and Masany) located in the Polesye State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (Khoiniki, Gomel Region, Republic of Belarus) where A. thaliana Bab-0, VS-0, and Masa-0 natural accessions, respectively, were collected" as published.…”