Mutations in rDNA. 1. Dependence of chromosome mutation induction on positions and activity of nucleolus organizer regions

Lilium compounds kaempferol and jatropham can modulate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of radiomimetic zeocin in plants and human lymphocytes In vitro

Organisms are constantly exposed to the detrimental effect of environmental DNA-damaging agents. The harmful effects of environmental genotoxins could be decreased in a viable way by antimutagenesis. One of the modern approaches to reduce the mutagenic burden is based on exogenous natural and synthetic compounds that possess protective and antimutagenic potential against genotoxins. The natural compounds kaempferol and jatropham isolated from Lilium candidum were tested with respect to their potential to protect cells against the radiomimetic zeocin, as well as to their cytotoxic and genotoxic activities in two types of experimental eukaryotic test systems: Hordeum vulgare and human lymphocytes in vitro. Mitotic index (MI) was used as an endpoint for cytotoxicity; the frequency of chromosome aberrations (MwA) and the number of induced micronuclei (MN), as endpoints for genotoxicity/clastogenicity. Formation of aberration "hot spots" was also used as an indicator for genotoxicity in H. vulgare. Both kaempferol and jatropham were shown to possess a potential to modulate and decrease the cytotoxic and genotoxic/clastogenic effect of zeocin depending on the experimental design and the test system. Our data could be useful for health research programs, particularly in clarifying the pharmacological potential and activity of natural plant compounds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 751-764, 2016.

Extract of Lillium candidum L. can modulate the genotoxicity of the antibiotic zeocin

Lilium candidum L. extract (LE) is well known in folk medicine for the treatment of burns, ulcers, inflammations and for healing wounds. This work aims to clarify whether the genotoxic potential of the radiomimetic antibiotic zeocin (Zeo) could be modulated by LE. Our results indicate that LE exerts no cytotoxic, DNA-damaging and clastogenic activity in in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Pisum sativum L. and Hordeum vulgare L. test systems over a broad concentration range. Weak but statistically significant clastogenic effects due to the induction of micronuclei and chromosome aberrations have been observed in H. vulgare L. after treatment with 200 and 300 μg/mL LE. To discriminate protective from adverse action of LE different experimental designs have been used. Our results demonstrate that the treatment with mixtures of LE and Zeo causes an increase in the level of DNA damage, micronuclei and "metaphases with chromatid aberrations" (MwA). Clear evidence has been also obtained indicating that pretreatment with LE given 4 h before the treatment with Zeo accelerates the rejoining kinetics of Zeo-induced DNA damage in P. sativum L. and C. reinhardtii, and can decrease clastogenic effect of Zeo measured as frequencies of micronuclei and MwA in H. vulgare L. Here, we show for the first time that LE can modulate the genotoxic effects of zeocin. The molecular mode of action strongly depends on the experimental design and varies from synergistic to protective effect (adaptive response-AR). Our results also revealed that LE-induced AR to zeocin involves up-regulation of DSB rejoining in C. reinhardtii and P. sativum L. cells.

Mutations in rDNA : 3. Modulatory action of α-amanitin on aberration induction in nucleolus organizer regions

The action of α-amanitin, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, on the induction by hydroxyurea (HU) of chromosomal aberrations in nucleolus organizer regions of barley was studied. The data obtained show that α-amanitin can effectively modify aberration induction in rDNA. Administered before mutagen treatment or in combination with the mutagen, the toxin significantly decreased the HU-induced aberration frequencies in NORs. The data obtained provide further evidence that α-amanitin is an effective modulator of aberration induction in NORs either by interfering with RNA synthesis or by modifying chromatin structure.

Mutations in rDNA. 2. Effects of Actinomycin D on chromatid aberration induction in nucleolus organizer regions

A reconstructed karyotype of barley with all chromosomes interdistinguishable was treated with hydroxyurea (HU) and Actinomycin D (Act D). The distribution pattern of chromatid aberrations after treatment with HU alone is characterized by a marked preferential involvement in chromatid translocations of segments 36 (NOR of satellite chromosome 6) and 43 (NOR of satellite chromosome 7). Act D applied at the low concentration of 0.05 μg/ml (4.10(-8) M) before HU treatment, or combined with HU, was found to cause an apparent decrease of HU-induced aberration frequencies in NORs. The exchanges in both segments proved to be approximately a half lower after Act D application when compared to the respective controls (treatment with HU alone). A recovery period of 5 h between the prolonged pretreatment with Act D (15 h) and the HU treatment eliminated the effect of the drug. The possible dependence of mutation induction upon the transcriptional activity of rDNA in NORs after Act D application is discussed.