Open AccessComputational search for UV radiation resistance strategies in Deinococcus swuensis isolated from Paramo ecosystems
Author(s) -
Jorge Díaz-Riaño,
Leonardo Posada,
Iván Camilo Acosta,
Carlos A. Ruiz-Pérez,
Catalina García-Castillo,
Alejandro Reyes,
María Mercedes Zambrano
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0221540
Subject(s) - biology , gene , phyllosphere , genetics , reactive oxygen species , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , bacteria
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is widely known as deleterious for many organisms since it can cause damage to biomolecules either directly or indirectly via the formation of reactive oxygen species. The goal of this study was to analyze the capacity of high-mountain Espeletia hartwegiana plant phyllosphere microorganisms to survive UVR and to identify genes related to resistance strategies. A strain of Deinococcus swuensis showed a high survival rate of up to 60% after UVR treatment at 800 J / m 2 and was used for differential expression analysis using RNA-seq after exposing cells to 400 J / m 2 of UVR (with >95% survival rate). Differentially expressed genes were identified using the R-Bioconductor package NOISeq and compared with other reported resistance strategies reported for this genus. Genes identified as being overexpressed included transcriptional regulators and genes involved in protection against damage by UVR. Non-coding (nc)RNAs were also differentially expressed, some of which have not been previously implicated. This study characterized the immediate radiation response of D. swuensis and indicates the involvement of ncRNAs in the adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.