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Endurance of the endolithic desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis under UVC radiation

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Abstract

Desert cyanobacteria of the genus Chroococcidiopsis are extremely resistant to desiccation and ionizing radiation. When an endolithic strain was exposed to UVC radiation cell lysis, genome damage, photosynthetic pigment bleaching and reduced photochemical performance occurred. Nevertheless, survivors were scored after UVC doses as high as 13 kJ/m2 and their endurance ascribed to multicellular aggregates enveloped in thick envelopes, so that attenuated UVC radiation reached the inner cells. In addition, the accumulation of carotenoids contributed to UVC resistance by providing protection against oxidative stress. Finally, in survivors repair mechanisms were responsible for the recovery of the induced damage to genome and photosynthetic apparatus.

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Abbreviations

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

FITC:

Fluorescein isothiocyanate

HIP1:

Highly iterated palindromic sequences, type1

RAPD:

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA

qPCR:

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Space Agency. The authors thank Dr. Elena Romano and Palma Mattioli, Centre of Advanced Microscopy “P. B. Albertano”, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, for skillful assistance in using the facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Mickael Baqué, Emanuela Viaggiu, Giuliano Scalzi & Daniela Billi

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  1. Mickael Baqué
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  2. Emanuela Viaggiu
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  3. Giuliano Scalzi
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  4. Daniela Billi
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Correspondence to Daniela Billi.

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Communicated by A. Oren.

This paper is in memoriam of Prof.ssa Patrizia B. Albertano, founder of the Centre of Advanced Microscopy and leader of the Laboratory of Biology of Algae at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. She died prematurely on March 14th, 2012.

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Baqué, M., Viaggiu, E., Scalzi, G. et al. Endurance of the endolithic desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis under UVC radiation. Extremophiles 17, 161–169 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-012-0505-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-012-0505-5

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