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Somatic damage to the X chromosome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans induced by gamma radiation

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Summary

Wild-type male embryos and young larvae of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were more sensitive than wild-type hermaphrodites to inactivation by gamma rays; wild-type males have one X chromosome per cell (XO), whereas wild-type hermaphrodites have two (XX). Furthermore, after transformation into fertile hermaphrodites by a her-1 mutation, XO animals were more radiosensitive than XX her-1 animals; and XX animals transformed into fertile males by a tra-1 mutation did not show increased radiosensitivity. It is concluded that wild-type males are more radiosensitive than wild-type hermaphrodites because they have one X chromosome rather than two, and the predominant mode of inactivation of XO animals involves damage to the single X chromosome. No sex-specific differences in survival were observed after UV irradiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, 76129, Fort Worth, TX, USA

    Philip S. Hartman

  2. Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota, 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Robert K. Herman

Authors
  1. Philip S. Hartman
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  2. Robert K. Herman
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Communicated by B.A. Bridges

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Hartman, P.S., Herman, R.K. Somatic damage to the X chromosome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans induced by gamma radiation. Molec. Gen. Genet. 187, 116–119 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384393

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384393

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