DNA Damage Response in Plants: Conserved and Variable Response Compared to Animals

Abstract

The genome of an organism is under constant attack from endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging factors, such as reactive radicals, radiation, and genotoxins. Therefore, DNA damage response systems to sense DNA damage, arrest cell cycle, repair DNA lesions, and/or induce programmed cell death are crucial for maintenance of genomic integrity and survival of the organism. Genome sequences revealed that, although plants possess many of the DNA damage response factors that are present in the animal systems, they are missing some of the important regulators, such as the p53 tumor suppressor. These observations suggest differences in the DNA damage response mechanisms between plants and animals. In this review the DNA damage responses in plants and animals are compared and contrasted. In addition, the function of SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 (SOG1), a plant-specific transcription factor that governs the robust response to DNA damage, is discussed.

Deficiency of the Arabidopsis Helicase RTEL1 Triggers a SOG1-Dependent Replication Checkpoint in Response to DNA Cross-Links

“…Moreover, because DNA frequently suffers from spontaneous lesions induced by endogenous and exogenous factors, such as reactive oxygen species and DNA metabolic by-products, or stresses such as UV light, ionizing radiation, and DNA-damaging agents, cells have evolved a complex molecular machinery to sense and repair DNA lesions to maintain faithful DNA duplication (Yoshiyama et al, 2013(Yoshiyama et al, , 2014. As part of this machinery, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) and ATM-and RAD3-related (ATR) are two closely related kinases that play a central role in sensing and triggering DNA damage responses.…”

The Transcriptional Response of Arabidopsis thaliana L. Genes AtKu70, AtRAD51 and AtRad1 to X-Ray Radiation

“…Under conditions of acute X-ray irradiation, the gene AtRad1 is regulated independently of AtKu70 and AtRAD51. Thus, it can be concluded that expression of inducible gene AtRAD51 and partly inducible gene AtKu70 is governed by the same transcriptional factor SOG1 [2,5]. Regarding AtRad1, investigation confirms the regulation of its expression by SOG1-independent mechanism, as indicated by the observation that transcription activity of AtRad1 under X-ray exposure do not match by activity of the genes AtKu70 and AtRAD51.…”

“…PCR (GeneAmp PCR System 2400, Applied Biosystems, USA) was performed in 20 μL total volume, using 5 μL сDNA as a template, 9.8 μL ddH 2 …”

“…3). Specific transcription factors, such as suppressor of gamma response 1 (SOG1) [2,5], and RNA-interference can be considered as potential regulators of transcription of these genes.…”

“…It is acquiring special significance for the higher plant [1]. The [1,2]. Perhaps this explains radioresistance of seeds of the most of the higher plants.…”