Lifetime and trans-generational epigenetic impacts of early-life radiation in a model insect, Acheta domesticus: Modulation by radioprotective and methylation-enhancing diets

受环境辐射影响的动物物种中，约90%是昆虫。快速的发展和短暂的寿命使蟋蟀成为评估辐射的寿命和跨代影响的理想对象。青少年和成年人吃同样的食物，所以保护性饮食可以在短短几个月内在整个一生中进行测试。基因决定了动物的发育和功能。一个叫做“DNA甲基化”的过程决定了某些基因是被激活还是被关闭，而辐射暴露可以永久性地改变DNA甲基化。因此，在生命早期单次暴露于辐射可以通过改变基因的开/关状态来改变动物的形态和功能。这些变化对生物体既有好处，也有坏处。“没有杀死你的东西会让你变得更强大”这一观点适用于辐射和一门被称为“兴奋效应”的整个科学。高剂量的辐射是有害的，但小剂量的辐射实际上是有益的。我们想要探索哪些辐射剂量在整个寿命和下一代蟋蟀(例如生长、繁殖、衰老速度和对压力的抵抗力)中产生后续的好处或伤害。我们特别感兴趣的是，了解生命早期的辐射暴露是否可以改善对随后辐射的保护。我们还想知道早期辐射是否能抵御其他类型的压力。我们试图知道DNA甲基化对此有何影响，以及对辐射的抵抗力是否可以遗传给下一代。我们还设计了两种应该具有辐射防护特性的膳食补充剂。我们将测试这些饮食是否减少了与高剂量辐射相关的损害。我们还希望检查这些饮食是否可以在以后的生活和下一代中加强低剂量辐射的好处。这些发现将适用于辐射生物学的各个方面，这些辐射生物学对核电工业有用，并与辐射污染的环境影响有关。如果这种饮食可以防止辐射损害，它们可能会对宇航员、核工业工人或那些意外暴露在辐射中的人有益。

About 90% of animal species impacted by environmental radiation exposure are insects. Rapid development and short lives make crickets ideal for assessing lifetime and trans-generational impacts of radiation. Juveniles and adults eat the same food so protective diets can be tested across the entire lifetime in just a few months. Genes determine how animals develop and function. A process called "DNA methylation" determines whether certain genes are activated or shut off, and radiation exposure can permanently alter DNA methylation. Consequently, a single exposure to radiation in early life can change the form and function of animals via altering the on/off status of genes. These changes can be either beneficial or harmful to the organism. The idea that "what does not kill you makes you stronger" applies to radiation and an entire science called "hormesis." High doses of radiation are harmful, but small doses of radiation can actually be beneficial. We want to explore which radiation doses yield subsequent benefits or harm across the lifespan and the next generation of crickets (e.g., growth, reproduction, aging rates, and resistance to stress). We are particularly interested in knowing whether radiation exposure early in life can improve protection against subsequent irradiation. We also want to know if early radiation can protect against other types of stress. We seek to know how DNA methylation may contribute to this, and whether resistance to radiation can be passed on to the next generation. We also designed two dietary supplements that should have radio-protective qualities. We will test whether these diets reduce damage associated with high-dose radiation. We also wish to examine whether these diets may strengthen the benefits of low-dose radiation in later life and in the next-generation. These findings would apply to diverse aspects of radiation biology useful to the nuclear power industry and relevant to environmental impacts of radiation contamination. If the diets are protective against radiation damage they may be of benefit to astronauts, nuclear industry workers or those accidentally exposed to radiation.