Article: Effect of high background natural radioactivity on human mitochondrial DNA in Ramsar, the north of Iran Journal: International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR) 2015 Vol.10 No.2 pp.169 - 179 Abstract: Radioactivity is known to induce tumours, chromosome lesions, and mini-satellite length mutations, but also effects on the DNA sequence. Ramsar region, in the north of Iran with the highest background of natural radiation (<SUP align="right"><SMALL>226</SMALL></SUP>Ra) in the world, with a densely populated area, offers an opportunity to characterise radiation-associated DNA mutations. We sampled 30 individuals from this area and 15 cases from Tehran as controls. We sequenced their mtDNA and found multiple variations in multiple nucleotide positions in Ramsar inhabitants. 16519 and T > C were the most frequent NPS and variables in our study. In this preliminary investigation, we conclude that an elevated level of natural background radiation in Ramsar region had a significant effect on the control region of mtDNA. We think this is the first report from Ramsar in this field. Moreover, using molecular and biological pathways and study of gene expression to understand the cellular and molecular response of human mtDNA to low-dose radiation exposure is recommended. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Effect of high background natural radioactivity on human mitochondrial DNA in Ramsar, the north of Iran

Authors: Reza Vazifehmand; Sassan Saber; Abbas Takavr; Dhuha Saeed Ali; Tina Saber; Farnaz Takavar

Addresses: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Department of Medical Sciences, Tehran Medical University, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Medical Sciences-Nuclear Physics, Tehran Medical University, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Microbiology, Halal Products Research Institute, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Department of Medical Sciences, Tehran Medical University, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Medical Sciences, Azad Medical University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Radioactivity is known to induce tumours, chromosome lesions, and mini-satellite length mutations, but also effects on the DNA sequence. Ramsar region, in the north of Iran with the highest background of natural radiation (²²⁶Ra) in the world, with a densely populated area, offers an opportunity to characterise radiation-associated DNA mutations. We sampled 30 individuals from this area and 15 cases from Tehran as controls. We sequenced their mtDNA and found multiple variations in multiple nucleotide positions in Ramsar inhabitants. 16519 and T > C were the most frequent NPS and variables in our study. In this preliminary investigation, we conclude that an elevated level of natural background radiation in Ramsar region had a significant effect on the control region of mtDNA. We think this is the first report from Ramsar in this field. Moreover, using molecular and biological pathways and study of gene expression to understand the cellular and molecular response of human mtDNA to low-dose radiation exposure is recommended.

Keywords: human mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA; background radiation; natural radioactivity; Ramsar; Iran; molecular pathways; biological pathways; gene expression; low radiation; radiation exposure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2015.074405

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2015 Vol.10 No.2, pp.169 - 179

Accepted: 05 Apr 2017
Published online: 28 Jan 2016 *

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Title: Effect of high background natural radioactivity on human mitochondrial DNA in Ramsar, the north of Iran

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