DNA Repair of Daphnia magna in response to Ultraviolet Radiation
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom A
Start Date
17-5-2012
End Date
17-5-2012
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a necessity for life. However, reduction in stratospheric ozone has resulted in increased levels of UVR at the Earth’s surface. This radiation causes potentially lethal DNA damage, including formation of cyclobutane pyramidine dimers. Organisms have evolved a number of enzymes to repair such damage, some of which are powered by visible light. Here we investigated UVB-induced DNA damage and subsequent DNA repair in Daphnia magna, a planktonic crustacean and model organism for toxicology. We wanted to find out if Daphnia manga sustain DNA damage at ecologically relevant doses of UVR, and whether or not they can repair this damage. We exposed pregnant D. magna to UVR and used a comet assay to assess DNA damage of embryos either immediately after exposure or after a subsequent 24-hour repair period. To perform the comet assay, we extracted early stage embryos, suspended the cells in agarose, lysed them, and pulled the damaged DNA out of the nuclei via electrophoresis. We used a florescent microscope to take pictures of the DNA and quantified levels of DNA damage using CometScore Software. Comparison with appropriate controls revealed highly significant damage due to UVR exposure and a marginally significant signature of DNA repair. Future research will focus on quantifying population-level variation in damage and on identifying the mechanism of repair.
Recommended Citation
Tompkins, Amanda and Smith, Amanda, "DNA Repair of Daphnia magna in response to Ultraviolet Radiation" (2012). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 125.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2012/posters/125
Poster Number
11
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
DNA Repair of Daphnia magna in response to Ultraviolet Radiation
SURC Ballroom A
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a necessity for life. However, reduction in stratospheric ozone has resulted in increased levels of UVR at the Earth’s surface. This radiation causes potentially lethal DNA damage, including formation of cyclobutane pyramidine dimers. Organisms have evolved a number of enzymes to repair such damage, some of which are powered by visible light. Here we investigated UVB-induced DNA damage and subsequent DNA repair in Daphnia magna, a planktonic crustacean and model organism for toxicology. We wanted to find out if Daphnia manga sustain DNA damage at ecologically relevant doses of UVR, and whether or not they can repair this damage. We exposed pregnant D. magna to UVR and used a comet assay to assess DNA damage of embryos either immediately after exposure or after a subsequent 24-hour repair period. To perform the comet assay, we extracted early stage embryos, suspended the cells in agarose, lysed them, and pulled the damaged DNA out of the nuclei via electrophoresis. We used a florescent microscope to take pictures of the DNA and quantified levels of DNA damage using CometScore Software. Comparison with appropriate controls revealed highly significant damage due to UVR exposure and a marginally significant signature of DNA repair. Future research will focus on quantifying population-level variation in damage and on identifying the mechanism of repair.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Alison Scoville