Molecular and mechanistic studies of the transgenerational response during a chronic gamma irradiation in the cladoceran Daphnia magna
Thesis: In order to durably protect ecosystems facing planned or accidental releases of radionuclides, the long-term impact of organism exposure to ionizing radiation must be studied on a multigenerational scale. The aim of this PhD is to improve the characterization of molecular processes and the prediction of transgenerational effects during a gamma irradiation. First, an experimental approach investigated on radio-induced modifications of epigenetic processes, i.e. changes in mechanisms that regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequence itself and on the transmission of these modifications to subsequent generations. Significant changes in DNA methylation, a well-studied epigenetic mechanism, detected in generation F3 clearly showed that epigenetic modifications could be transmitted to unexposed generations, in response to the exposure of a parental generation (F0) to external gamma radiation (6.5 µGy.h-1 et 41.3 mGy.h-1) for 25 days. Second, a mechanistic modelling approach used a modified version of the DEBtox model (Dynamic Energy Budget model applied to toxicology) in order to analyze effects of gamma radiation on D. magna growth and reproduction over several generations. To that end, damage compartments, with damage levels that were transmitted from one generation to the next, were included. The model was fitted to data using Bayesian inference methods, in order to estimate the parameters while considering their associated uncertainty.
Keywords
- Gamma radiation
- Transgenerationnal effects
- Epigenetic modification
- DNA methylation
- DEBtox
- Daphnia magna
Issuing body(s)
- Aix-Marseille université
Date of defense
- 18/12/2018
Thesis director(s)
- Jean-Christophe Poggiale
- Frédéric Alonzo
URL of the HAL notice
Version
- 1