Flowering flax plant under chronic irradiation

Flowering plant and seed development have long held the interest of general biologists because they represent a critical sensitivity changes phases in the pattern of shoot development and have significant consequences in creating yield seed [Hopkins W. G.,

Huner N. P.A., 2009]. The generative phase growth of plant include appear the floral organ with flower and filling seed event is involve important question: Why do plant this sensitivity processes controlled in shot during flowering spring and/or summer under stress factors? The flax plant flowering under chronic irradiation is a complex event that involves genome destabilizations as well as posttranslational regulation, signal transduction and epigenetic regulation metabolism inside living cell [Kutsokon N. K., Rashydov N. M., Grodzinsky D. M. 2007, Kutsokon N., Rashydov N. M. & Grodzinsky D. 2003, Kutsokon N., Rashydov N. M. & Berezhna V. 2004, Kutsokon N., Lazarenko L. M. & Bezrukov V. F. 2004]. For shed light this problem we carry out especially experiment by help of pretreatment by melanin-glucan complex flax seeds which growth under chronic irradiation in Chernobyl zone. As well known the melanin-glucan complex has high gene protective response against of chronic IR in a wide range of doses due to capturing free radical regulation and influencing on epigenetic changes in cells. The curve bloom rate of flax plant depend of during of term observe and treatment by the melanin-glucan complex under influenced chronic irradiation shown in figure 37.

Fig. 37. Flowers per day depend of observed time and approach of treatment flax plants: with melanin-glucan complex plus chronic irradiation (y+mel), irradiated by only chronic radiation (y), with melanin-glucan complex (mel) and control variant (con) without any treatments.

On base above given curves we were calculated for all variants for the experiment curve parameters that characterized the altitude rate bloom and the time of flower appear necessary for realization of the half of peak flowering. The height of the altitude curve of bloom H (%) and half height of the peak flowering term L (days) of first and second bloom peak of flax plants which grown under different specific chronic irradiation with rate 2.6+0.3 mcSv/h and 25.4+0.4 mcSv/h to versus of control variants depend of melanin-glucan complex treatments shown at tables 1 and 2.

Variants

First flowering peak

Second flowering peak

H, %

L, days

R2

H, %

L, days

R2

у + melanin — glucan complex

7.2

14

0.91

3.3

15

0.96

у — irradiated

9.4

12

0.95

2.1

11

0.96

melanin-glucan

complex

9.2

13

0.89

1.5

12

0.94

Control

9.2

12

0.92

1.5

12

0.96

Table 1. The altitude curve of bloom H (%) and half height time L (days) of first and second flowering peak flax plants which grown under chronic irradiation with specific rate of radiation 2.6+0.3 mcSv/h and control variants depend of melanin-glucan complex treatments

Variants

First flowering peak

Second flowering peak

H, %

L, days

R2

H, %

L, days

R2

у + melanin — glucan complex

6.6

9

0.91

5.5

8

0.96

у — irradiated

8.4

10

0.89

3.0

8

0.96

melanin-glucan

complex

7.2

12

0.87

2.4

7

0.74

Control

7.6

10

0.92

3.7

8

0.94

Table 2. The altitude curve of bloom H (%) and half height time L (days) of first and second flowering peak flax plant which grown under chronic irradiation with specific rate of radiation 25.4+0.4 mcSv/h and control variants depend of melanin-glucan complex treatments

As shown from figure 37 after 10-15 days since started flowering period the percent of flax flower per day increased until maximal magnitude and the curve passed first peak. During 10-12 day bloom probable decrease until zero and keeping in spontaneous level a few days. But after that during 10-12 days probable of bloom increased and on the curve appear second late flowering peak. For treatment melanin-glucan complex reveal more quantity flower release during second bloom period depend of chronic irradiation: yield proximally 3.3% under chronic irradiation with specific dose 2.6 mcSv/h, in case specific dose 25.4 mcSv/h it increased until 5.5%, accordingly. Increasing the second peak inflorescence appear for both curves variant treatment with melanin-glucan complex at dose 2.6 mcSv/h as well as under chronic irradiation specific dose 25.4 mcSv/h deal with involve this subtract in epigenetic changes in genome regulations flowering process during ontogenesis of flax plants. Necessary mentioned that the bloom of second peak for several plant usually excited appear sterility flowers but for flax was appeared yield in second peak bloom a lot of fertile seeds in generally with germination rate proximally 97%. However the average numbers of seeds per seed box or per infructescence of plant flax grown in several conditions do not differed from control variant significantly.

As known epigenetic events regulate the activities of gene which take part in vegetative and generative phases of growth plant by help of processes methylation of DNA, acetylation, phosphorylation of the histone tails in chromatin fiber. The heritability of DNA methylation, which often occurs in the early and late stages of vegetative development of the ontogenesis plant, allows cells to keep irrelevant genes silenced in successive generations of embryo cell. However some genes — such as plant genes that govern cell dormancy and spring time flowering — require silenced genes to be reactivated. Evidence is beginning to emerge those different classes by help of micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) and on noncoding RNAs regulate these protein synthesis [Danchenko, M., Skultety, L. & Berezhna, V. V. 2008, Danchenko M, Skultety L. & Rashydov N. M. 2009, Danchenko M, Klubicova K. & Skultety L. 2011]. Thus the seedlings since germination until flowering, filling seed and matured seed during all ontogenesis term under chronic irradiation perceived some signal transduction events which accumulate permanently in plants as epigenetic changes transient heritability.

3. Conclusion

Quality and qualitative changes in the structure of the radiation factor of object "Shelter" occurred over twenty-five years of its existence. Inside the "Shelter" the spontaneous destruction of the fuel-containing materials in IV Unit of the ChNPP which arose out of nuclear fuel in the acute phase of the disaster under the influence of intense ionizing radiation and high temperatures was developing. As a result of a new type of radioactive aerosol particles of nanometer size were appeared as called fuel hot particles. Accumulation of radionuclides with long half-life, in particular, radioactivity isotopes of strontium and plutonium and their decay products in the tissues of plant and animal organisms is especially dangerous. The fuel-containing materials are dissolved under the action of microorganisms and a new compound of radioactivity isotopes with organic matter was appeared. They are potentially more mobile and more ecologically dangerous around and inside "Shelter" environments. The radiation fields with different intensity inside object "Shelter" have contributed to increasing the mutation rate and breeding of radiation — resistant microorganisms with new aggressive properties. A lot of number particles of micrometer and nanometer size which consisting the cells of microorganisms and spores in the investigated samples of aerosols originated from "Shelter" premises. It is known that the light roof of sarcophagus has a large number of defects and some of these microorganisms, especially in the form of spores, may potentially carry away outside of the object "Shelter".

The hot particles of fuel contain gamma-, beta — and alpha — irradiators, such as radioisotopes of strontium and plutonium and their decay products continue irradiating organism late times even after termination of introduce to them. When IR from similarly radioactivity isotopes interaction with living matter they pass it relatively high energy. It is being spent on the excitation of atoms or ions and changes the chemical properties of matter and additional radicals may be appeared in living cells.

As rule the linear non-threshold concept suggests that DNA damage induced by low doses of radiation do not contribute significantly to increased risk of disease because a significant amount of endogenous genome damage occurs and is restored in cells constantly. The main difference between DNA damage induced by IR, from the endogenous damaged — it’s clustering and the complexity of their chemical nature. The proportion of complex, critical for the fate of the cell damage is much higher when exposed to chronic IR. Especially the massive clustering of DNA damage occurs when the ionization tracks pass along chromatin fiber. At the same time it is known that the probability of occurrence of endogenous clustered DNA damage is extremely low. Accumulation a lot of endogenous damages does not occur because in the cells are constantly functioning mechanisms of reparation, specifically targeted at removing various types damages. Low doses of IR can not activate the G2/M chekpoynt-arrest and DNA repair are not activated when the number of DSB DNA damage and crosslinks between the fibers under 10 — 20 per cell.

There are four outcomes for the cell fate, if the cellular radiation damage is not adequately was repaired. The cell may die or will delay it or keep playing with the viability of new qualities or mutations as the basis for the development of remote descendants.

The energy dependence of the mechanisms of apoptosis is disabled after irradiation, and the cell dies with loss of cell membrane integrity and its release of macromolecular components, such as intracellular enzymes etc., into the intercellular space. These substances cause an immune response in the form of inflammation as leukocyte infiltration of the affected tissue, interstitial fluid accumulation and subsequent induction of specific immune responses (specifically sensible T-lymphocyte and autoantibody) to the unmasked and recognized by lymphocytes of intracellular components.

We detected a significant increase in the rate of ALT levels in chronically irradiated by low doses mice Balb/c compared with non-irradiated. Increased serum levels of this enzyme are considered a sign of inflammation in the liver because a large amount of ALT is released from the damaged cells of this body. Positive changes of serum levels of AuAB to liver — specific protein (LSP) that is a mixture of antigenic determinants of the substrate from the membranes of hepatocytes are also determined in the process of dose accumulation at irradiated animals. Because of their labiality, some proteins that are part of the LSP in particular the asialoglycoprotein receptor under certain conditions including under the influence of small doses of radiation may acquire properties of auto antigens.

Thus chronic exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation of low intensity may lead to the abolition of immune tolerance, not only in the liver but also in other organs. As is known in turn increased the activity of autoimmunity is a favorable condition for the transfer of persistent infections in the active state and for stimulation of vegetation as saprophyte and pathogenic microorganisms.

It is known that the IR increases the level of signal transduction in the infected cell and can activate the promoter of certain genes of the virus and subsequent synthesis of the corresponding proteins. As a result of these events, the cell does not die, as is the case with an active infection, and changes its functional properties. In this changing antigenic repertoire of cell membranes was described. Antigens become available for immune recognition. As a result by an autoimmune reaction and changes the pathogenesis of a wide range of infectious diseases to cancer stimulated.

The main outcome of the 25-year study of morbidity in different categories of exposed persons in connection with the Chernobyl catastrophe is a significant increase in primary morbidity is not associated with tumor pathology. An additional mechanism of radiobiological effects in mammals, which can have a direct influence on the biomedical effects of radiation, was described. This is a phenomenon of production by irradiated cells of signals that cause lesions similar to radiation damage in no irradiated neighbor cells as "bystander effect" (BSE) was named. We used index of SSB DNA as indicator to assess the effects of ionizing radiation. It was shown that the living medium obtained after three hours stay of IrCs on the first day after exposure at dose 5.0 Sv for 16 hour is able to induce an additional level of SSB DNA in different types of cells from not-irradiated mice Balb/c — in lymphocytes, hepatocytes, bone marrow hematopoietic cells, splenocytes and astroglial cells. Identification BSE in liver tissue is an additional argument in favor of accepting the reality of the existence of diseases of hepato-biliary system of radiation origin.

At the same time it was shown that the transmission "bystander" signals within the irradiated BALB/c mice were observed for at least one month after exposure. We also found a correlation between high rate of LD50/30 and low induction SSB DNA in non-irradiated cells after placing them in the living environment of cells from irradiated animals. In mice with lower level of LD50/3o (Balb/c) induction of SSB in cellular DNA non-irradiated lymphocytes after exposure in living environment of the irradiated cells in various periods after of irradiation was higher in comparison with similar index of C57Bl/6 mice with higher level of LD50/30. We observed BSF in mice of two lines with different modes and doses: the external influence of gamma-ray dose, 5.0 Sv (for 16 hours), and external chronic exposure for 231 days with a cumulative dose of 0.29 Sv, with internal radiation for 74 days with the accumulation of activity in the mouse body about 18 kBq.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the mechanisms of signal transmission to "bystander" cells. Reinforced ROS production in non-irradiated cells incubated in medium from serum, irradiated gamma-particles, or from supernatant of the suspension of irradiated cells was shown by many authors. Irradiated cells produce a spectrum of "bystander" signals — cytokines, fragments of DNA (from apoptotic cells) or other factors of protein nature. These factors cause a change in oxidative metabolism and gene expression profiles in irradiated cells, and induce enhanced production of highly reactive oxygen species. In addition to chemical modification of DNA nucleotides, the formation of radicals can also lead to changes in the higher levels of organization structure of the molecule — the secondary, tertiary and quaternary.

Therefore the melanin-glucan complex (MGC) from higher mushroom basidiomycetes — Fomes fomentarius, was used as an antioxidant to confirm the involvement of molecules of free-radical nature to the transmission of signals from irradiated cells to non-irradiated cells after external influence of gamma-rays (the model of the single and chronic exposure of mice). Antioxidants, photo-and radio-protective properties are a direct consequence of the free-radical structure of melanin providing the opportunity to participate in electronic exchange of redox in cell and radical recombination processes around DNA damages. We have shown that intra peritoneal injection of MGC, which has powerful antioxidant properties, to mice prior to irradiation at a dose procedure 5.0 Sv decreases from BSE in all kinds of testing cells and increase the number of colony forming units in bone marrow of irradiated mice. These results may serve as an argument in favor of the hypothesis about the important role of free radicals, molecules in the implementation of the phenomenon of BSE. Concluding on the obtained experimental data it is clear that melanin-glucan complex is a strong radiation protector that helps to avoid consequences of the LD50/30 dose of irradiation at the level of HSC by affecting quantity of available growth stimulating factors that are commonly associated with radiation-induced damage to the bone marrow.

In the experiments on vegetative plant test-system evidence that under influence chronic irradiation were formed radiobiological reactions living organisms which include several level functions and structure organization processes since metabolic pathways and cellular systems until genetically and population changes. We observed that accumulation the radionuclide of 241Am depended of carry out fascicles system of the leaves and localization of the layer leaves not far from length root collar of plant which grow in laboratory conditions. The first layer leaves were taken up high-level amount radionuclide 241 Am. The peculiarity distribution radionuclide 241 Am in Arabidopsis thaliana plant on high level layer leaves, in petiole and in carry out fascicles of the leaves significant that go into this radioactivity isotope from root system to top of plant very slow and membrane of cells played as discrimination barrier in this processes as mentioned in our previously investigations. It is known that mineral nutrients are transported apoplastically, i. e. in the wall system outside the plasma membrane, or symplastically, i. e. in the cell wall system outside the plasma membrane, or symplastically, i. e. in the cytoplasm from cell to cell deal with through plasmodesmata. Elements that penetrate into the cytoplast can also be shuttled into the vacuole via various mechanisms depending of element. But for plants that harvested from contaminated sites distribution of the radionuclide 241Am by tissue and organs essentially differed from plants which grown in laboratory conditions. When we observed plant white blow (Erophila verna (L.) Bess.) for autoradiography investigation from Chistogalovka and Yaniv contaminated soil sites the distribution tracks of radionuclide essential differ in compare of above mentioned experiment. Contamination with radionuclide in natural experimental fields significant added tracks elementary particles from flying in air very small dust such as nano — and micro-size with radioactivity less than "hot" particles in environment by help foliar pathway into top leaves and apex of plant. Existence of nano — and micro — size dust as radioactive aerosols with specific properties around object "Shelter " circulate an environment represents potential risk radiobiological consequences of plant that grow in alienation Chernobyl 30-km zone.

The chronic irradiation around object "Shelter" was including instability genome, which carried out genetic and somatic changers in late heritable on perennials as well as in several generation annual plants. Proteomics analysis observes; bloom, filling and maturing seeds evidence that there is induce epigenetic changes of genome that excited late genetic changers on progenies and somatic changes of flax plant. Treatment by the melanin-glucan complex from fungus F. fomentarius before sowing seed procedure increase second peak on flowering curve depend of ontogenesis flax under influence chronic irradiation.

It is known that under chronic irradiation the epigenetic events regulate the activities or inactivate of genes by help of several mechanisms which may be include miPNA inter action deal with process that take part in vegetative and generative phases (bloom, filling and maturing seed) of growth plant by help of processes methylation of DNA, acetylation, phosphorylation of the histone tails in chromatin fiber of chromosome. However some genes — such as plant genes that govern cell dormancy and spring time flowering — require silenced genes to be reactivated. The heritability of DNA methylation, which often occurs in the early and late stages of vegetative development of the ontogenesis plant, allows cells to keep irrelevant genes silenced in successive generations of embryo cell. Evidence is beginning to emerge those different classes by help of micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) and on noncoding RNAs regulate these protein synthesis.

Our experiments carry out with chronic irradiation revealed that in mammalian and plants cells excided not only direct damage DNA or appear mutation event as well as were observed complex responsible processes including genome instability, signal transduction, bystander effect between sells and epigenetic changes several profiles protein synthesis depend of activity or silent some genes which adjusted by help of treatment melanin-glucan complex.

4. Acknowledgment

The authors thanks to deputy director of the Nuclear Research Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Dr. Tryshyn V. V. help us with maintenance radioactivity measure of several contaminated samples by radionuclides from Chernobyl zone.

5. Keywords

Chernobyl, object "Shelter", radioactive isotopes, "hot" particles with micro — and nano-sizes, radioactivity aerosol, embryogenesis, signal system, autoradiography, single strand break (SSB) DNA, chronic irradiation, bystander effect, autoimmunity, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver-specific lipoprotein (LSP), radiation hepatitis, bone marrow, hematopoietic stem cells, medical consequence, melanin-glucan complex, flowering of flax, epigenetic.