Modulation of Pleurodeles waltl DNA polymerase mu expression by extreme conditions encountered during spaceflight

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 31;8(7):e69647. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069647. Print 2013.

Abstract

DNA polymerase µ is involved in DNA repair, V(D)J recombination and likely somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes. Our previous studies demonstrated that spaceflight conditions affect immunoglobulin gene expression and somatic hypermutation frequency. Consequently, we questioned whether Polμ expression could also be affected. To address this question, we characterized Polμ of the Iberian ribbed newt Pleurodeles waltl and exposed embryos of that species to spaceflight conditions or to environmental modifications corresponding to those encountered in the International Space Station. We noted a robust expression of Polμ mRNA during early ontogenesis and in the testis, suggesting that Polμ is involved in genomic stability. Full-length Polμ transcripts are 8-9 times more abundant in P. waltl than in humans and mice, thereby providing an explanation for the somatic hypermutation predilection of G and C bases in amphibians. Polμ transcription decreases after 10 days of development in space and radiation seem primarily involved in this down-regulation. However, space radiation, alone or in combination with a perturbation of the circadian rhythm, did not affect Polμ protein levels and did not induce protein oxidation, showing the limited impact of radiation encountered during a 10-day stay in the International Space Station.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / classification
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / genetics*
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / radiation effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / radiation effects
  • Larva / enzymology
  • Larva / genetics
  • Larva / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction / radiation effects
  • Phylogeny
  • Pleurodeles / embryology
  • Pleurodeles / genetics*
  • Pleurodeles / growth & development
  • Protein Carbonylation / radiation effects
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Space Flight*
  • Testis / embryology
  • Testis / growth & development
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Transcriptome / genetics*
  • Transcriptome / radiation effects

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA polymerase mu
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HE583591

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the French National Space Agency (CNES) (www.cnes.fr), the National Research Agency (grant ANR NT09-632666)(www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr), the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr), the Lorraine University (www.univ-lorraine.fr/), the Lorraine area (www.lorraine.eu/) and BELSPO/PRODEX/ESA (contract 42-000-90-380) (www.belspo.be). N.G. was supported by a PhD fellowship from the National Research Fund of Luxembourg (www.fnr.lu) and V.S. by a CNES post-doctoral fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.