Computational search for UV radiation resistance strategies in Deinococcus swuensis isolated from Paramo ecosystems

PLoS One. 2019 Dec 2;14(12):e0221540. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221540. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is widely known as deleterious for many organisms since it can cause damage to biomolecules either directly or indirectly via the formation of reactive oxygen species. The goal of this study was to analyze the capacity of high-mountain Espeletia hartwegiana plant phyllosphere microorganisms to survive UVR and to identify genes related to resistance strategies. A strain of Deinococcus swuensis showed a high survival rate of up to 60% after UVR treatment at 800J/m2 and was used for differential expression analysis using RNA-seq after exposing cells to 400J/m2 of UVR (with >95% survival rate). Differentially expressed genes were identified using the R-Bioconductor package NOISeq and compared with other reported resistance strategies reported for this genus. Genes identified as being overexpressed included transcriptional regulators and genes involved in protection against damage by UVR. Non-coding (nc)RNAs were also differentially expressed, some of which have not been previously implicated. This study characterized the immediate radiation response of D. swuensis and indicates the involvement of ncRNAs in the adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / radiation effects
  • Deinococcus / genetics
  • Deinococcus / isolation & purification
  • Deinococcus / physiology*
  • Deinococcus / radiation effects*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / radiation effects
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Radiation Tolerance*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by Colciencias (https://www.colciencias.gov.co/), Grant No. 657065843848, including support for J.D-R. J.D-R was also funded by the Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biology. The authors also acknowledge the Universidad de Los Andes for providing a graduate assistance fellowship to J.D-R. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.