Development of Brassica as a low dose radiation biosensor
Abstract
This project will examine the effects of ionizing radiation on Brassica, a widely distributed genus of plants, with the ultimate goal of developing Brassica as a novel biosensor for ionizing radiation exposure. Plants, because of their immobility and long life cycles, can provide both spatial and temporal information regarding the source of radiation and the timing of exposure. In addition to acute exposures, as might occur in the event of offensive use or covert testing of a nuclear or radiologic weapon, plants can monitor the environment, sampling groundwater and air over time. Brassicas have ideal characteristics to serve as sensors for unanticipated radiologic events or nuclear proliferation activities. There are more than 30 species of Brassica, some of which are cultivated, but most of which grow wild on every continent except Antarctica. There are well-developed genomic tools available for Brassica species and these resources will be utilized, in the proposed studies, to obtain, for the first time, genome-wide characterization of the impact of ionizing radiation exposure on chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation. The overarching hypothesis in this proposal is that ionizing radiation exposure can act as a potent stressor and, even at low doses, induce reproducible changes in chromatin structure and/or DNA methylation in the genome of irradiated Brassica species. The proposed studies will assay the effects of radiation doses ranging from 1-10 cGy on chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation in Brassica. The sensitivity and specificity of epigenetic changes in response to radiation will be compared and contrasted. A targeted assay will be developed, based upon genome-wide results, which will serve as a simplified test of radiation exposure and allow probing of the lower limits of sensitivity. In two optional studies, the ability of epigenetic changes induced by ionizing radiation to be transmitted through seed and the response of Brassica to chronic (5 mGy/hour or less), rather than acute, exposures will be explored.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 13, 2016
- Source ID
- HDTRA11610048
Entities
People
- Patrick Concannon
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- University of Florida