Effects of ectopic expression of Drosophila DNA glycosylases dOgg1 and RpS3 in mitochondria

Oxidative stress-induced changes in the transcriptomic profile of extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to play dual roles in cellular homeostasis, functioning both to remove unwanted intracellular molecules, and to enable communication between cells as a means of modulating cellular responses in different physiological and pathological scenarios. EVs contain a broad range of cargoes, including multiple biotypes of RNA, which can vary depending on the cell status, and may function as signalling molecules. In this study, we carried out comparative transcriptomic analysis of Drosophila EVs and cells, demonstrating that the RNA profile of EVs is distinct from cells and shows dose-dependent changes in response to oxidative stress. We identified a high abundance of snoRNAs in EVs, alongside an enrichment of intronic and untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs under stress. We also observed an increase in the relative abundance of either aberrant or modified mRNAs under stress. These findings suggest that EVs may function both for the elimination of specific cellular RNAs, and for the incorporation of RNAs that may hold signalling potential.

Ribosomal protein S3 is a novel negative regulator of non-homologous end joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the most serious types of DNA damage. However, multiple repair pathways are present in cells to ensure rapid and appropriate repair of DSBs. Pathway selection depends on several factors including cell type, cell cycle phase, and damage severity. Ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3), a component of the 40S small ribosomal subunit, is a multi-functional protein primarily involved in protein synthesis. rpS3 is also involved in the mediation of various extra-ribosomal pathways, including DNA damage processing and the stress response. Here, we report that rpS3 is a novel negative regulator of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated repair of DSBs. We found that rpS3 interacts with the Ku heterodimers of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex and slows down NHEJ ligation reactions, ultimately triggering p53-dependent cell death following treatment with high-dose ionizing radiation. After DSB formation, DNA-PK phosphorylates rpS3, which consequently reduces the binding of rpS3 to the Ku complex. We hypothesized that rpS3 may play a role in DSB repair by repressing NHEJ, while inducing other repair pathways, and by initiating DSB-induced cell death in response to severe DNA damage.

Role of Metallothionein-1 and Metallothionein-2 in the Neuroprotective Mechanism of Sevoflurane Preconditioning in Mice

This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of sevoflurane preconditioning (SPC) on neurons in ischemic mice. After SPC, mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Cerebral infarction area, cell apoptosis, and metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and metallothionein-2 (MT-2) expressions in MCAO mice were analyzed. Mouse primary neurons were isolated and cultured to determine the location of metallothioneins (MTs) using immunofluorescence. Neurons transfected with MT-siRNA, exogenous MTs, or sh-MTF-1 were subjected to SPC and/or oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), and MT-1/MT-2 expression and neurotoxin release were assayed. Meanwhile, neurons were treated with the nitric oxide donor SNAP, degraded SNAP, or the peroxide initiator paraquat, and alterations in MT-1/MT-2 expression and neurotoxicity release were observed. SPC attenuated neuronal injury and apoptosis in MCAO mice. SPC could protect neurons against OGD injury and resulted in upregulated MT-1/MT-2 expression. MT-siRNA transfection led to the downregulated expression of MT-1/MT-2 and increased neurotoxicity, and the expression patterns of these neurons were different from those of neurons transfected with exogenous MTs. The knockdown of MTs could hinder the protective effect of SPC against OGD. Pretreatment with SNAP or paraquat could increase MTF-1 expression in the nucleus of neurons, protecting against OGD injury. The inhibition of nitric oxide and peroxide inhibited the protective role of SPC in OGD by downregulating MTF-1 expression. sh-MTF-1 transfection downregulated MT-1/MT-2 expression and enhanced neurotoxicity in neurons. SPC confers neuroprotection in focal cerebral ischemia mouse models by upregulating the expression of MT-1 and MT-2 by activating NO and peroxide and increasing MTF-1 expression in the nucleus.

Knockout of Mpv17-Like Protein (M-LPH) Gene in Human Hepatoma Cells Results in Impairment of mtDNA Integrity through Reduction of TFAM, OGG1, and LIG3 at the Protein Levels

Human Mpv17-like protein (M-LPH) has been suggested to participate in prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. To clarify the molecular mechanism of M-LPH function, we knocked out M-LPH in human hepatoma HepG2 using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. An increase in mtDNA damage in M-LPH-KO HepG2 cells was demonstrated by PCR-based quantitation and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) measurement. Furthermore, confocal immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot analysis of mitochondrial extracts demonstrated that M-LPH-KO caused reductions in the protein levels of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), an essential factor for transcription and maintenance of mtDNA, and two DNA repair enzymes, 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) and DNA ligase 3 (LIG3), both involved in mitochondrial base excision repair (BER). Accordingly, it was suggested that the increase in mtDNA damage was due to a cumulative effect of mtDNA instability resulting from deficiencies of TFAM and diminished ability for BER arising from deficiencies in BER-related enzymes. These findings suggest that M-LPH could be involved in the maintenance of mtDNA, and therefore mitochondrial function, by protecting proteins essential for mtDNA stability and maintenance, in an integrated manner.

Programming of Cell Resistance to Genotoxic and Oxidative Stress

Different organisms, cell types, and even similar cell lines can dramatically differ in resistance to genotoxic stress. This testifies to the wide opportunities for genetic and epigenetic regulation of stress resistance. These opportunities could be used to increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy, develop new varieties of plants and animals, and search for new pharmacological targets to enhance human radioresistance, which can be used for manned deep space expeditions. Based on the comparison of transcriptomic studies in cancer cells, in this review, we propose that there is a high diversity of genetic mechanisms of development of genotoxic stress resistance. This review focused on possibilities and limitations of the regulation of the resistance of normal cells and whole organisms to genotoxic and oxidative stress by the overexpressing of stress-response genes. Moreover, the existing experimental data on the effect of such overexpression on the resistance of cells and organisms to various genotoxic agents has been analyzed and systematized. We suggest that the recent advances in the development of multiplex and highly customizable gene overexpression technology that utilizes the mutant Cas9 protein and the abundance of available data on gene functions and their signal networks open new opportunities for research in this field.

An insight into the genotoxicity assessment studies in dipterans

The dipterans have been widely utilized in genotoxicity assessment studies. Short life span, easy maintenance, production of large number of offspring in a single generation and the tissues with appropriate cell populations make these flies ideal for studies associated to developmental biology, diseases, genetics, genetic toxicology and stress biology in the group. Moreover, their cosmopolitan presence makes them suitable candidate for ecological bio-monitoring. An attempt has been made in the present review to reveal the significance of dipteran flies for assessing alterations in genetic content through various genotoxicity biomarkers and to summarize the gradual advancement in these studies. Recent studies on genotoxicity assays in dipterans have opened up a broader perspective for DNA repair related mechanistic studies, pre-screening of chemicals and environmental bio-monitoring. Studies in dipterans, other than Drosophila may be helpful in using them as an alternative model system for assessment of genotoxicity, especially at the gene level and further extension of these studies give a future insight to develop new strategies for maintaining environment friendly limits of the toxicants.

The Comet assay in insects--Status, prospects and benefits for science

The Comet assay has been recently adapted to investigate DNA damage in insects. The first reports of its use in Drosophila melanogaster appeared in 2002. Since then, the interest in the application of the Comet assay to studies of insects has been rapidly increasing. Many authors see substantial potential in the use of the Comet assay in D. melanogaster for medical toxicology studies. This application could allow the testing of drugs and result in an understanding of the mechanisms of action of toxins, which could significantly influence the limited research that has been performed on vertebrates. The possible perspectives and benefits for science are considered in this review. In the last decade, the use of the Comet assay has been described in insects other than D. melanogaster. Specifically, methods to prepare a cell suspension from insect tissues, which is a difficult task, were analyzed and compared in detail. Furthermore, attention was paid to any differences and modifications in the research protocols, such as the buffer composition and electrophoresis conditions. Various scientific fields in addition to toxicological and ecotoxicological research were considered. We expect the Comet assay to be used in environmental risk assessments and to improve our understanding of many important phenomena of insect life, such as metamorphosis, molting, diapause and quiescence. The use of this method to study species that are of key importance to humans, such as pests and beneficial insects, appears to be highly probable and very promising. The use of the Comet assay for DNA stability testing in insects will most likely rapidly increase in the future.

Identification of interacting partners of Human Mpv17-like protein with a mitigating effect of mitochondrial dysfunction through mtDNA damage

Human Mpv17-like protein (M-LPH) has been suggested to participate in mitochondrial function. In this study, we investigated the proteins that interact with M-LPH, and identified four: H2A histone family, member X (H2AX), ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14), ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3) and B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (Bap31). Immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation studies revealed that M-LPH is localized predominantly in the nucleus, to some extent in a subset of mitochondria, and marginally in the cytosol. Mitochondrial M-LPH appeared as punctate foci, and these were co-localized with a subset of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and mtDNA, indicating that M-LPH is localized in or in close proximity to mitochondrial nucleoids. RNAi-mediated knockdown of M-LPH resulted in an increase of mtDNA damage and reduced the expression of mtDNA-encoded genes. A ROS inducer, antimycin A, caused an increase in both the number and size of the mitochondrial M-LPH foci, and these foci were co-localized with two enzymes, DNA polymerase γ (POLG) and DNA ligase III (LIG3), both involved in mtDNA repair. Furthermore, knockdown of M-LPH hampered mitochondrial localization of these enzymes. Taken together, these observations suggest that M-LPH is involved in the maintenance of mtDNA and protects cells from mitochondrial dysfunction.

Different faces of mitochondrial DNA mutators

A number of studies have shown that ageing is associated with increased amounts of mtDNA deletions and/or point mutations in a variety of species as diverse as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, mice, rats, dogs, primates and humans. This detected vulnerability of mtDNA has led to the suggestion that the accumulation of somatic mtDNA mutations might arise from increased oxidative damage and could play an important role in the ageing process by producing cells with a decreased oxidative capacity. However, the vast majority of DNA polymorphisms and disease-causing base-substitution mutations and age-associated mutations that have been detected in human mtDNA are transition mutations. They are likely arising from the slight infidelity of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase. Indeed, transition mutations are also the predominant type of mutation found in mtDNA mutator mice, a model for premature ageing caused by increased mutation load due to the error prone mitochondrial DNA synthesis. These particular misincorporation events could also be exacerbated by dNTP pool imbalances. The role of different repair, replication and maintenance mechanisms that contribute to mtDNA integrity and mutagenesis will be discussed in details in this article. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging.

Drosophila comet assay: insights, uses, and future perspectives

The comet assay, a very useful tool in genotoxicity and DNA repair testing, is being applied to Drosophila melanogaster since around 15 years ago, by several research groups. This organism is a valuable model for all kind of processes related to human health, including DNA damage response. The assay has been performed mainly in vivo using different larvae cell types (from brain, midgut, hemolymph, and imaginal disk), but also in vitro with the S2 cell line. Since its first application, it has been used to analyze the genotoxicity and action mechanisms of different chemicals, demonstrating good sensitivity and proving its usefulness. Moreover, it is the only assay that can be used to analyze DNA repair in somatic cells in vivo, comparing the effects of chemicals in different repair strains, and to quantitate repair activities in vitro. Additionally, the comet assay in Drosophila, in vivo and in vitro, has been applied to study the influence of protein overexpression on genome integrity and degradation. Although the assay is well established, it could benefit from some research to determine optimal experimental design to standardize it, and then to allow comparisons among laboratories independently of the chosen cell type.

Akt: a double-edged sword in cell proliferation and genome stability

The Akt family of serine/threonine protein kinases are key regulators of multiple aspects of cell behaviour, including proliferation, survival, metabolism, and tumorigenesis. Growth-factor-activated Akt signalling promotes progression through normal, unperturbed cell cycles by acting on diverse downstream factors involved in controlling the G1/S and G2/M transitions. Remarkably, several recent studies have also implicated Akt in modulating DNA damage responses and genome stability. High Akt activity can suppress ATR/Chk1 signalling and homologous recombination repair (HRR) via direct phosphorylation of Chk1 or TopBP1 or, indirectly, by inhibiting recruitment of double-strand break (DSB) resection factors, such as RPA, Brca1, and Rad51, to sites of damage. Loss of checkpoint and/or HRR proficiency is therefore a potential cause of genomic instability in tumor cells with high Akt. Conversely, Akt is activated by DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in a DNA-PK- or ATM/ATR-dependent manner and in some circumstances can contribute to radioresistance by stimulating DNA repair by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Akt therefore modifies both the response to and repair of genotoxic damage in complex ways that are likely to have important consequences for the therapy of tumors with deregulation of the PI3K-Akt-PTEN pathway.

Obesity and hepatosteatosis in mice with enhanced oxidative DNA damage processing in mitochondria

Mitochondria play critical roles in oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism. Increasing evidence supports that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and dysfunction play vital roles in the development of many mitochondria-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, infertility, neurodegenerative disorders, and malignant tumors in humans. Human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) transgenic (TG) mice were produced by nuclear microinjection. Transgene integration was analyzed by PCR. Transgene expression was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial DNA damage was analyzed by mutational analyses and measurement of mtDNA copy number. Total fat content was measured by a whole-body scan using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The hOGG1 overexpression in mitochondria increased the abundance of intracellular free radicals and major deletions in mtDNA. Obesity in hOGG1 TG mice resulted from increased fat content in tissues, produced by hyperphagia. The molecular mechanisms of obesity involved overexpression of genes in the central orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) pathway, peripheral lipogenesis, down-regulation of genes in the central anorexigenic (appetite-suppressing) pathway, peripheral adaptive thermogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation. Diffuse hepatosteatosis, female infertility, and increased frequency of malignant lymphoma were also seen in these hOGG1 TG mice. High levels of hOGG1 expression in mitochondria, resulting in enhanced oxidative DNA damage processing, may be an important factor in human metabolic syndrome, infertility, and malignancy.

Ribosomal protein S3, a new substrate of Akt, serves as a signal mediator between neuronal apoptosis and DNA repair

RPS3, a conserved, eukaryotic ribosomal protein of the 40 S subunit, is required for ribosome biogenesis. Because ribosomal proteins are abundant and ubiquitous, they may have additional extraribosomal functions. Here, we show that human RPS3 is a physiological target of Akt kinase and a novel mediator of neuronal apoptosis. NGF stimulation resulted in phosphorylation of threonine 70 of RPS3 by Akt, and this phosphorylation was required for Akt binding to RPS3. RPS3 induced neuronal apoptosis, up-regulating proapoptotic proteins Dp5/Hrk and Bim by binding to E2F1 and acting synergistically with it. Akt-dependent phosphorylation of RPS3 inhibited its proapoptotic function and perturbed its interaction with E2F1. These events coincided with nuclear translocation and accumulation of RPS3, where it functions as an endonuclease. Nuclear accumulation of RPS3 results in an increase in DNA repair activity to some extent, thereby sustaining neuronal survival. Abolishment of Akt-mediated RPS3 phosphorylation through mutagenesis accelerated apoptotic cell death and severely compromised nuclear translocation of RPS3. Thus, our findings define an extraribosomal role of RPS3 as a molecular switch that accommodates apoptotic induction to DNA repair through Akt-mediated phosphorylation.

Animal models of mitochondrial DNA transactions in disease and ageing

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transactions, processes that include mtDNA replication, repair, recombination and transcription constitute the initial stages of mitochondrial biogenesis, and are at the core of understanding mitochondrial biology and medicine. All of the protein players are encoded in nuclear genes: some are proteins with well-known functions in the nucleus, others are well-known mitochondrial proteins now ascribed new functions, and still others are newly discovered factors. In this article we review recent advances in the field of mtDNA transactions with a special focus on physiological studies. In particular, we consider the expression of variant proteins, or altered expression of factors involved in these processes in powerful model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster and the mouse, which have promoted recognition of the broad relevance of oxidative phosphorylation defects resulting from improper maintenance of mtDNA. Furthermore, the animal models recapitulate many phenotypes related to human ageing and a variety of different diseases, a feature that has enhanced our understanding of, and inspired theories about, the molecular mechanisms of such biological processes.

OGG1 is a novel prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukaemia

OGG1 (8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase) constitutes a key component of the DNA base excision repair pathway, catalysing the removal of 8-oxoguanine nucleotides from DNA, thereby suppressing mutagenesis and cell death. We found that OGG1 expression was significantly downregulated by the RUNX1-ETO fusion protein product of the t(8;21) chromosome translocation in normal haematopoietic progenitor cells and in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Further examination of OGG1 expression in 174 AML trial patients using Affymetrix microarrays showed that the prevalence rate of OGG1 expression was 33% and correlated strongly with adverse cytogenetics. OGG1-expressing patients had a worse relapse-free survival and overall survival and an increased risk of relapse at 5-years of follow-up. There remained a trend towards increased relapse rate among OGG1-expressing patients, even after adjusting for other known risk factors in comprehensive stratified analyses. We also determined a trend for OGG1 expression to have a more adverse impact on disease outcome in the context of the FLT3-ITD mutation. This study highlights OGG1 as a valuable prognostic marker that could be used to sub-stratify AML patients to predict those likely to fail conventional chemotherapies but those likely to benefit from novel therapeutic approaches that modulate DNA repair activity.

Peroxiredoxin 5 confers protection against oxidative stress and apoptosis and also promotes longevity in Drosophila

Peroxiredoxin 5 is a distinct isoform of the peroxiredoxin gene family. The antioxidative and anti-apoptotic functions of peroxiredoxin 5 have been extensively demonstrated in cell culture experiments. In the present paper, we provide the first functional analysis of peroxiredoxin 5 in a multicellular organism, Drosophila melanogaster. Similar to its mammalian, yeast or human counterparts, dPrx5 (Drosophila peroxiredoxin 5) is expressed in several cellular compartments, including the cytosol, nucleus and the mitochondrion. Global overexpression of dPrx5 in flies increased resistance to oxidative stress and extended their life span by up to 30% under normal conditions. The dprx5(-/-) null flies were comparatively more susceptible to oxidative stress, had higher incidence of apoptosis, and a shortened life span. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) analysis revealed that the dprx5(-/-) null mutant had discernible tissue-specific apoptotic patterns, similar to those observed in control flies exposed to paraquat. In addition, apoptosis was particularly notable in oenocytes. During development the dPrx5 levels co-varied with ecdysone pulses, suggesting inter-relationship between ecdystreroids and dPrx5 expression. The importance of dPrx5 for development was further underscored by the embryonic lethal phenotype of progeny derived from the dprx5(-/-) null mutant. Results from the present study suggest that the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities of dPrx5 play a critical role in development and aging of the fly.

Metabolic pathways in Anopheles stephensi mitochondria

No studies have been performed on the mitochondria of malaria vector mosquitoes. This information would be valuable in understanding mosquito aging and detoxification of insecticides, two parameters that have a significant impact on malaria parasite transmission in endemic regions. In the present study, we report the analyses of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria of cultured cells [ASE (Anopheles stephensi Mos. 43) cell line] from A. stephensi, a major vector of malaria in India, South-East Asia and parts of the Middle East. ASE cell mitochondria share many features in common with mammalian muscle mitochondria, despite the fact that these cells are of larval origin. However, two major differences with mammalian mitochondria were apparent. One, the glycerol-phosphate shuttle plays as major a role in NADH oxidation in ASE cell mitochondria as it does in insect muscle mitochondria. In contrast, mammalian white muscle mitochondria depend primarily on lactate dehydrogenase, whereas red muscle mitochondria depend on the malate-oxaloacetate shuttle. Two, ASE mitochondria were able to oxidize proline at a rate comparable with that of alpha-glycerophosphate. However, the proline pathway appeared to differ from the currently accepted pathway, in that oxoglutarate could be catabolized completely by the tricarboxylic acid cycle or via transamination, depending on the ATP need.

Mitochondrial DNA oxidative damage and mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutation of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been linked to maternally inherited neuromuscular disorders and is implicated in more common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. Mutations in mtDNA also accumulate with age and are therefore believed to contribute to aging and age-related pathology. Housed within the mitochondrial matrix, mtDNA encodes several of the proteins involved in the production of ATP via the process of oxidative phosphorylation, which involves the flow of high-energy electrons through the electron transport chain (ETC). Because of its proximity to the ETC, mtDNA is highly vulnerable to oxidative damage mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals that are constantly produced by this system. Therefore, it is important to be able to measure oxidative mtDNA damage under normal physiologic conditions and during environmental or disease-associated stress. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a facile and informative model system in which to study such mtDNA oxidative damage because it is a unicellular eukaryotic facultative anaerobe that is conditionally dependent on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for viability. Here, we describe methods for quantifying oxidative mtDNA damage and mutagenesis in S. cerevisiae, several of which could be applied to the development of similar assays in mammalian cells and tissues. These methods include measuring the number of point mutations that occur in mtDNA with the erythromycin resistance assay, quantifying the amount of oxidative DNA damage utilizing a modified Southern blot assay, and measuring mtDNA integrity with the "petite induction" assay.

Human ribosomal protein S3 (hRpS3) interacts with uracil-DNA glycosylase (hUNG) and stimulates its glycosylase activity

Human ribosomal protein S3 (hRpS3) is a small ribosomal subunit showing apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyase activity and has been suggested to play a role in the cellular DNA-damage response pathway. However, the functional interactions between hRpS3 and other base excision repair (BER) DNA glycosylases have not been reported. We identified, for the first time, the interaction between hRpS3 and human uracil-DNA glycosylase (hUNG) and investigated the functional consequences of this interaction. hRpS3 was shown to interact with hUNG in co-immunoprecipitation assay using transiently transfected HEK293 cells and GST pull-down assay using microbial expression systems. In an assay using a 5'-end-radiolabeled 39-mer oligonucleotide duplex containing a U/G mismatch, hRpS3 dramatically stimulated the uracil-excision activity of hUNG, whereas hRpS3 alone had no cleavage activity. Pre-incubation of hRpS3 with the U/G mismatch containing DNA duplex also increased the hUNG uracil-excision activity; however, hRpS3 did not increase the DNA binding activity of hUNG in a trapping assay of hUNG and the U/G mismatch containing DNA duplex using UV cross-linking. hRpS3 has been suggested to stimulate the uracil-excision activity of hUNG by enhancing its dissociation from AP sites and increasing its turn-over rate. The disruption of hRpS3 by small-interfering RNA (siRNA-hRpS3) transfection reduced the uracil-excision activity preserved in cell extracts, whereas the supplement of purified hRpS3 retained uracil-excision activity. These results strongly suggest that hRpS3 may be involved in the uracil-excision pathway, probably by participating in the DNA repair mechanism to remove uracil generated by the deamination of cytosine in DNA, and by preventing C/G-->T/A transition mutations.

Comet assay: a reliable tool for the assessment of DNA damage in different models

New chemicals are being added each year to the existing burden of toxic substances in the environment. This has led to increased pollution of ecosystems as well as deterioration of the air, water, and soil quality. Excessive agricultural and industrial activities adversely affect biodiversity, threatening the survival of species in a particular habitat as well as posing disease risks to humans. Some of the chemicals, e.g., pesticides and heavy metals, may be genotoxic to the sentinel species and/or to non-target species, causing deleterious effects in somatic or germ cells. Test systems which help in hazard prediction and risk assessment are important to assess the genotoxic potential of chemicals before their release into the environment or commercial use as well as DNA damage in flora and fauna affected by contaminated/polluted habitats. The Comet assay has been widely accepted as a simple, sensitive, and rapid tool for assessing DNA damage and repair in individual eukaryotic as well as some prokaryotic cells, and has increasingly found application in diverse fields ranging from genetic toxicology to human epidemiology. This review is an attempt to comprehensively encase the use of Comet assay in different models from bacteria to man, employing diverse cell types to assess the DNA-damaging potential of chemicals and/or environmental conditions. Sentinel species are the first to be affected by adverse changes in their environment. Determination of DNA damage using the Comet assay in these indicator organisms would thus provide information about the genotoxic potential of their habitat at an early stage. This would allow for intervention strategies to be implemented for prevention or reduction of deleterious health effects in the sentinel species as well as in humans.