Free radicals and chromosome aberrations in leaves of woody plants as a test system for the genotoxicity of the urban environment |
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Authors: | E P Gus'kov T V Varduni T P Shkurat N P Milyutina A V Mirzoyan |
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Institution: | (1) Research Institute of Biology, Rostov State University, pr. Stachki 194/1, 344090 Rostov-on-Don, Russia |
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Abstract: | A new method for estimating the genotoxicity of the urban environment is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of
the lipid peroxidation (LPO) rate in leaves of woody plants. The mutagenicity of the urban environment was estimated using
standard test systems, including plant root meristem (kidney beans germinated in water with suspended particles collected
at different points along the Temernik River) and the Ames test (silt samples were tested). Sensitivities of elm, willow,
and poplar leaf meristem cells to unidentified environmental mutagenes were compared. Frequencies of chromosome aberrations
(CAs) in leaves of woody plants growing at different points along the Temernik River within the Rostov-on-Don city districts
differed from those in the control zone. The frequency of CAs was found to correlate with the concentration of LPO products.
This allows a biochemical estimation of the malonic dialdehyde (MDA) concentration in woody plants to be used as an express
test for the mutagenicity of environmental factors. An advantage of the proposed test is the possibility of monitoring the
level of unidentified environmental mutagens over many years, independently of its sporadic temporal variations. |
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Keywords: | test systems chromosome aberrations lipid peroxidation plant leaves plant meristem |
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