Genetic variation in resistance to ionizing radiation

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6331129· OSTI ID:6331129

Ayala, F J

The very reactive superoxide anion O[sub 2] is generated during cell respiration as well as during exposure to ionizing radiation. Organisms have evolved different mechanisms to protect against the deleterious effects of reduced oxygen species. The copper-zinc superoxide dismutase is a eukaryotic cytoplasmic enzyme that protects the cell by scavenging superoxide radicals and dismutating them to hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen: 20[sub 2][sup [minus]] + 2H [yields] H[sub 2]O[sub 2] + O[sub 2]. SOD had been shown to protect against ionizing radiation damage to DNA, viruses, bacteria, mammalian cells, whole mice, and Drosophila. Evidence that genetic differences may affect sensitivity to ionizing radiation has been shown in Drosophila since differences have been shown to exist between strains and resistance to radiation can evolve under natural selection.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Irvine, CA (United States). Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-88ER60713
• OSTI ID: 6331129
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60713-T3; ON: DE93017835
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
GENETIC VARIABILITY
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
DROSOPHILA
ENZYME ACTIVITY
LARVAE
LETHAL DOSES
LIFETIME
PROGRESS REPORT
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
DIPTERA
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
ENZYMES
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PROTEINS
560100* - Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies- Radiation Effects
550400 - Genetics
550200 - Biochemistry