Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, have discovered that blue light can vastly improve the variety of genetic mutations in yeast.
Since yeast is a well-liked mannequin organism in biology, the findings recommend extended publicity to blue light might additionally pose comparable dangers to different organisms. This will want extra analysis to verify.
These results of blue light publicity additionally transcend its recognized influence on sleep cycles and imaginative and prescient.
The study was carried out in the laboratory of Nishant Ok.T. His fellow authors have been PhD students Nikilesh Vijayan and Sameer Joshi and postdoc Praseetha Sarath. The findings have been revealed in PLoS Genetics.
The DNA of each dwelling organism modifications barely over time due to mutations. One form of mutation is named lack of heterozygosity (LOH): when a cell loses genetic range at sure components of its DNA. LOH can assist evolution alongside however can even consequence in illnesses like most cancers. Scientists try to know how widespread environmental components like light, temperature, and the supply of vitamins affect these mutations.
In the brand new study, the researchers used yeast cells — the sort used in baking bread — that had a combined genetic background, which can be utilized to trace LOH occasions. They grew these cells over about 1,000 generations in completely different environments: regular situations (i.e. management group), publicity to blue light, low sugar, excessive temperature, salty situations, ethanol, and oxidative stress.
Each setting had 16 yeast populations grown independently. After 1,000 generations, the researchers sequenced the DNA from every inhabitants to evaluate genetic modifications.
They discovered that each situation examined led to extra LOH mutations in comparison with regular situations, however the extent of modifications assorted vastly by setting. Blue light was particularly damaging: these cells had by far probably the most LOH mutations.
The light brought about giant sections of DNA to lose genetic variation, making important components of the genome uniform. This occurred as a result of blue light produced reactive oxygen molecules, like hydrogen peroxide, that broken DNA.
The staff additionally discovered that blue light induced distinctive sorts of DNA mutations. For instance, it oxidised DNA bases, inflicting errors in DNA copying.
“Our work provides a mechanistic basis for using chronic blue light exposure as a novel antifungal agent through its genotoxicity. This is important as there is increasing resistance of pathogenic yeast to antifungal drugs,” Prof. Nishant stated.
Published – May 25, 2025 05:45 am IST
