Effects of space flight on DNA mutation and secondary metabolites of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.)

Abstract

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) seeds were flown on a recoverable satellite for 18 days(the average radiation dose in the flight recovery module was 0.102 mGy/d, the distance from flight apogee to earth was 350 km, gravity 10(-6)). After returning to earth, the seeds were germinated and grown to maturity. The parallel ground-based seeds were also planted under the same conditions. The leaves of licorice were used for inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis and the two main secondary metabolites in one-year-old roots were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among 22 random primers used in this experiment, 6 primers generated different DNA band types. Analysis of HPLC showed that the content of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and liquiritin (LQ) in the roots from seeds flown in space was respectively 2.19, 1.18 times higher than that of the control group. The results demonstrated that the extraterrestrial environment induced mutagenic effects on licorice and affected its secondary metabolites. These changes indicated that extraterrestrial orbit is possible means of breeding of licorice so as to preserve this endangered medicinal plant.

How the space environment influences organisms: an astrobiological perspective and review

“…Available literature data strongly indicate that the space environment can also induce heritable and stable DNA changes in plants (both positive and negative mutations), resulting in genetically diverse strains (Table 1) (Cowles et al ., 1994; Dutcher et al ., 1994; Nechitailo et al ., 2005; He et al ., 2006; Liu et al ., 2008; Gao et al ., 2009; Wu et al ., 2010; Chengzhi, 2011; Dong et al ., 2012; Yuan et al ., 2012). In the course of a ‘Space-mutation breeding’ program, Chinese scientists sent seeds of crops, floriculture, vegetable, fruits, medicinal plants and forest trees to space (Xianfang et al ., 2004; He et al ., 2006; Liu et al ., 2008).…”

“…Space ionizing radiation-induced changes in secondary metabolites production have been appreciated in rhizomes of a Chinese traditional medical plant Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza uralensis) grown from seeds exposed in space to a radiation dose of 0.102 mGy day −1 for 18 days (Gao et al ., 2009; Dong et al ., 2012). In another study, an increase in glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin was measured along with significant changes in other secondary metabolites production (e.g.…”

Bioactivity and Potential Health Benefits of Licorice

“…Liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid can also stimulate immune responses, enhance antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in mice focal cerebrum, and might act as protective agents against epithelial injury in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . As with glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin may bind to DNA . Liquiritin may directly affect gene expression or other DNA-related mechanisms.…”

“…81 As with glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin may bind to DNA. 82 Liquiritin may directly affect gene expression or other DNA-related mechanisms. Both liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid are glycones or glycosides, functional groups that may be important for DNA binding, although this characterization has yet to be confirmed.…”

Assessment of genetic diversity and variation of Robinia pseudoacacia seeds induced by short-term spaceflight based on two molecular marker systems and morphological traits

“…However, the molecular effects of space environments on plants are largely unknown. Molecular-marker techniques have been widely used for detecting genetic mutations after space flight, including inter-simple sequence repeat markers (Gao et al, 2009;Wu et al 2011), simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (Zhou et al, 2007;Xiao et al, 2009;He et al, 2010;Lu et al, 2010), amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (Yi et al, 2002;Li et al, 2007;Lu et al, 2010;Sun et al, 2010), random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers (Liu et al, 1999;Gao et al, 2000;Yi et al, 2002;Nechitailo et al, 2005;Xie et al, 2010), and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers Wang et al, 2009). Among these molecular markers, SSRs are often employed because of their reproducibility, codominant inheritance, relative abundance, multiallelic nature, good genome coverage, and high frequency of polymorphism detection (Powell et al, 1996;McCouch et al, 2002;Lu et al, 2010).…”