DNA Damage Induced by Late Spring Sunlight in Antarctica

Abstract

Sunlight ultraviolet (UV) radiation constitutes an important environmental genotoxic agent that organisms are exposed to, as it can damage DNA directly, generating pyrimidine dimers, and indirectly, generating oxidized bases and single‐strand breaks (SSBs). These lesions can lead to mutations, triggering skin and eye disorders, including carcinogenesis and photoaging. Stratospheric ozone layer depletion, particularly in the Antarctic continent, predicts an uncertain scenario of UV incidence on the Earth in the next decades. This research evaluates the DNA damage caused by environmental exposure to late spring sunlight in the Antarctic Peninsula, where the ozone layer hole is more pronounced. These experiments were performed at the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, at King’s George Island, South Shetlands Islands. For comparison, tropical regions were also analyzed. Samples of plasmid DNA were exposed to sunlight. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), oxidized base damage and SSBs were detected using specific enzymes. In addition, an immunological approach was used to detect CPDs. The results reveal high levels of DNA damage induced by exposure under the Antarctic sunlight, inversely correlated with ozone layer thickness, confirming the high impact of ozone layer depletion on the DNA damaging action of sunlight in Antarctica.

UV Radiation Exposure of Outdoor Workers in Antarctica

“…Furthermore, the location of the base is within the limits of the Antarctic ozone hole. Recent research conducted on the Antarctic peninsula in close vicinity to the Bulgarian Antarctic Base has shown high levels of DNA damage induced by exposure to the Antarctic sunlight, inversely correlated with ozone layer thickness, confirming the high impact of ozone layer depletion on the DNA damaging action of sunlight in Antarctica (7).…”

Bioprospecting macroalgae, marine and terrestrial invertebrates & their associated microbiota

“…Some marine organisms acquire MAA by diet transfer, symbiotic or bacterial associations (Shick et al 1992, Stochaj et al 1994, Carrol & Shick 1996. MAA are more abundant in algae of tropical regions, and they have similar function of flavonoids of higher plants (Fuentes-Leon et al 2020). Experiments of photodegradation and photosensitization with several MAA evidenced their role as a stable and effective sunscreen compound (Whitehead & Hedges, 2005).…”

The Pathomechanism, Antioxidant Biomarkers, and Treatment of Oxidative Stress-Related Eye Diseases

“…ROS lead to cell damage and aging, resulting in corneal degeneration, lens opacification (cataracts), and the occurrence of eye diseases, including various retinal and optic nerve degenerative diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) [5][6][7]. In recent years, with the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer [8] and the popularity of light-emitting diode (LED) electronic products [9,10], the long-term photo-oxidative stress brought on by the environment to the eyes is bound to increase the prevalence of these degenerative ocular diseases.…”