High ultraviolet C resistance of marine Planctomycetes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

viana, f (Author) Other; lage, om (Author) FCUP; oliveira, r (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology

Vol. 104

Pages: 585-595

ISSN: 0003-6072

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-6XY

DOI: 10.1007/s10482-013-0027-x

Abstract (EN): Planctomycetes are bacteria with particular characteristics such as internal membrane systems encompassing intracellular compartments, proteinaceous cell walls, cell division by yeast-like budding and large genomes. These bacteria inhabit a wide range of habitats, including marine ecosystems, in which ultra-violet radiation has a potential harmful impact in living organisms. To evaluate the effect of ultra-violet C on the genome of several marine strains of Planctomycetes, we developed an easy and fast DNA diffusion assay in which the cell wall was degraded with papain, the wall-free cells were embedded in an agarose microgel and lysed. The presence of double strand breaks and unwinding by single strand breaks allow DNA diffusion, which is visible as a halo upon DNA staining. The number of cells presenting DNA diffusion correlated with the dose of ultra-violet C or hydrogen peroxide. From DNA damage and viability experiments, we found evidence indicating that some strains of Planctomycetes are significantly resistant to ultra-violet C radiation, showing lower sensitivity than the known resistant Arthrobacter sp. The more resistant strains were those phylogenetically closer to Rhodopirellula baltica, suggesting that these species are adapted to habitats under the influence of ultra-violet radiation. Our results provide evidence indicating that the mechanism of resistance involves DNA damage repair and/or other DNA ultra-violet C-protective mechanism.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11