Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Study on the Resistance of Haloferax Radiotolerans, an Extreme Halophilic Archaebacterium from Uromia Lake Against Ultraviolet (UV) Light and 60Co Gamma- Rays

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

E Asgarani
M Shirzad
M.R Soudi
H.R Shahmohammadi
T Falsafi
Abstract
In this work, the capacity of an extreme halophilic archaebacterium, isolated from Uromia lake, Haloferax radiotolerans to withstand the lethal effects of  ultraviolet light (UV),and 60Co r-rays has heen studied. The resistibility of this organism against the DNA-damaging agents was evaluated by calculating of the survival fractions at different dose rates of UV and 60Co r-rays radiations and compared with those of Escherichia coli B/r (a radioresistant strain of E. coli). D37 values for Haloferax radiotolerans and E. coli B/r were 231, and 9 J/m2, respectively, by exposure to the UV light. They were 645, and 99 Gy, respectively, by exposure to 60Co r-rays. Against these agents, Haloferax radiotolerans shows much more resistance compare to that of E. coli B/r. This is catogorized as the first report of resistibility in the member of Archaea.

Highlights

  1. C.R. Woese, O. Kandler, M.L. Whellis, “Towards a natural system of organisms: Proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya,” proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.,  87, 4576-4579 (1990).

     

  2. C. Schiraldi, M. Giuliano, M. DeRosa, “Perspectives on biotechnological applications of archaea,” Archaea 1, 75-86 (2002).

     

  3. E.C. Friedberg, G.C. Walker, W. Siede, “DNA Repair and Mutagenesis,” American Society of Microbiology. Washington D.C. (1995).

     

  4. H.R. Shahmohammadi, E. Asgarani, H. Terato, H. Ide, O. Yamamoto, “Effects of 60Co gamma-rays, ultraviolet light, and mitomycin C on  Halobacterium salinarium and Thiobacillus intermedius,” J. Radiat. Res., 38, 37-43 (1997).

     

  5. M. Kelly, S. Norgard, S. Liaaen-Jensen, “Bacterial carotenoids. 31. C50- carotenoids. Carotenoids of Halobacterium salinarium, especially bacterioruberin,” Acta Chem. Scand., 24, 2169-2182 (1970).

     

  6. C.D. Litchfield, A. Irby, T. Kis-Papo, A. Oren, “Comparisons of the polar lipid and pigment profiles of two solar salterns located in New York, California, Eliat, Israel,” J. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology., 28, 56-63 (2002).

     

     

     

     

     

  7. J. Jagger, “Photochemistry and photobiology of nuleic acids,” Academic Press. New York (1976).

     

  8. E.M. Witkins, “Inherited difference in sensitivity to radiation in Escherichia coli,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 32, 59-68 (1946).

     

  9. S. Sehgal and N.E. Gibbons, “Effect of some metal ions on the growth of Halobacterium  cutirubrum,” Can.J. Microbiol., 6, 165-169 (1960).

     

  10. M.A. Hescox and D.M. Calberg, “Photoreactivation in Halobacterium cutirubrum,” Can. J. Microbiol., 18, 981-985 (1972).

     

  11. S.J. McCready and L. Marcello, “Repair of UV damage in Halobacterium salinarum,” Bioch. So. Trans., 31 (3), 694-698 (2003).

     

  12. C.A. Praul and W.D. Taylor, “Responses of Halobacterium halobium and Sulfolobus solfataricus to hydrogen peroxide and N-methyl-N- nitrosoguanidine exposure,” Microbiol. Res., 152, 257-260 (1997).

     

  13. P.S. Fitt and N. Sharma, “The fate of thymine-containing dimers in ultraviolet-irradiated Halobacterium cutirubrum,” Biochem. Biophys. Acta.,  910, 103-110 (1987).

     

  14. N.I. Krinsky, “The biological properties of carotenoids,” pure App. Chem., 63, 141-146 (1994).

     

  15. C.E. Singer and N.B. Ames, “Sunlight ultraviolet and bacterial DNA base ratios,” Science 171, 822-826 (1970).

     

  16. S. Zheng, G.L. Newton, J.F. Ward, R.C. Fahey, “Aerobic radioprotection of  pBR322 by thiols: Effect of thiol net charge upon scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and repair of DNA radicals,” Radiat. Res., 130, 183-193 (1992).

     

  17. A.T. Matheson, G.D. Sprott, I.J. McDonald, H. Tessier, “Some properties of an unidentified halophile: growth characteristics, internal salt concentration, and morphology,” Can. J. Microbiol., 22, 780-786 (1976).

     

H.R. Shahmohammadi, E. Asgarani, H. Terato, T. Saito, Y. Ohyama, K. Gekko, O. Yamamoto, H. Ide, “Protective roles of bacterioruberin and intracellular KCl in the resistance of Halobacterium salinarium against DNA-damaging agents,” J. Radiat. Res., 39, 251-262 (1998).a

Keywords

Archaebacteria
Haloferax Radiotolerans
Irradiation
Ultraviolet Light (UV)
Gamma Rays
D37 Value
DNA Damages

  1. C.R. Woese, O. Kandler, M.L. Whellis, “Towards a natural system of organisms: Proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya,” proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.,  87, 4576-4579 (1990).

     

  2. C. Schiraldi, M. Giuliano, M. DeRosa, “Perspectives on biotechnological applications of archaea,” Archaea 1, 75-86 (2002).

     

  3. E.C. Friedberg, G.C. Walker, W. Siede, “DNA Repair and Mutagenesis,” American Society of Microbiology. Washington D.C. (1995).

     

  4. H.R. Shahmohammadi, E. Asgarani, H. Terato, H. Ide, O. Yamamoto, “Effects of 60Co gamma-rays, ultraviolet light, and mitomycin C on  Halobacterium salinarium and Thiobacillus intermedius,” J. Radiat. Res., 38, 37-43 (1997).

     

  5. M. Kelly, S. Norgard, S. Liaaen-Jensen, “Bacterial carotenoids. 31. C50- carotenoids. Carotenoids of Halobacterium salinarium, especially bacterioruberin,” Acta Chem. Scand., 24, 2169-2182 (1970).

     

  6. C.D. Litchfield, A. Irby, T. Kis-Papo, A. Oren, “Comparisons of the polar lipid and pigment profiles of two solar salterns located in New York, California, Eliat, Israel,” J. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology., 28, 56-63 (2002).

     

     

     

     

     

  7. J. Jagger, “Photochemistry and photobiology of nuleic acids,” Academic Press. New York (1976).

     

  8. E.M. Witkins, “Inherited difference in sensitivity to radiation in Escherichia coli,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 32, 59-68 (1946).

     

  9. S. Sehgal and N.E. Gibbons, “Effect of some metal ions on the growth of Halobacterium  cutirubrum,” Can.J. Microbiol., 6, 165-169 (1960).

     

  10. M.A. Hescox and D.M. Calberg, “Photoreactivation in Halobacterium cutirubrum,” Can. J. Microbiol., 18, 981-985 (1972).

     

  11. S.J. McCready and L. Marcello, “Repair of UV damage in Halobacterium salinarum,” Bioch. So. Trans., 31 (3), 694-698 (2003).

     

  12. C.A. Praul and W.D. Taylor, “Responses of Halobacterium halobium and Sulfolobus solfataricus to hydrogen peroxide and N-methyl-N- nitrosoguanidine exposure,” Microbiol. Res., 152, 257-260 (1997).

     

  13. P.S. Fitt and N. Sharma, “The fate of thymine-containing dimers in ultraviolet-irradiated Halobacterium cutirubrum,” Biochem. Biophys. Acta.,  910, 103-110 (1987).

     

  14. N.I. Krinsky, “The biological properties of carotenoids,” pure App. Chem., 63, 141-146 (1994).

     

  15. C.E. Singer and N.B. Ames, “Sunlight ultraviolet and bacterial DNA base ratios,” Science 171, 822-826 (1970).

     

  16. S. Zheng, G.L. Newton, J.F. Ward, R.C. Fahey, “Aerobic radioprotection of  pBR322 by thiols: Effect of thiol net charge upon scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and repair of DNA radicals,” Radiat. Res., 130, 183-193 (1992).

     

  17. A.T. Matheson, G.D. Sprott, I.J. McDonald, H. Tessier, “Some properties of an unidentified halophile: growth characteristics, internal salt concentration, and morphology,” Can. J. Microbiol., 22, 780-786 (1976).

     

H.R. Shahmohammadi, E. Asgarani, H. Terato, T. Saito, Y. Ohyama, K. Gekko, O. Yamamoto, H. Ide, “Protective roles of bacterioruberin and intracellular KCl in the resistance of Halobacterium salinarium against DNA-damaging agents,” J. Radiat. Res., 39, 251-262 (1998).

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