Effect of high background natural radioactivity on human mitochondrial DNA in Ramsar, the north of Iran
by Reza Vazifehmand; Sassan Saber; Abbas Takavr; Dhuha Saeed Ali; Tina Saber; Farnaz Takavar
International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR), Vol. 10, No. 2, 2015

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.

Online publication date: Thu, 28-Jan-2016

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Low Radiation (IJLR):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com