Abstract
Understanding of radiation effects and its molecular mechanisms in environmental organisms has been received increasing attention for the radiological protection of the environment. Comparative studies on radiation responses at a transcript level of diverse environmental organisms may lead to understanding of generality and diversity of radiation responses across species and mechanisms underlying species-specific susceptibility. However, little is known about radiation responsive genes in environmental organisms. Therefore, it is imperative to gather information of these genes in diverse species. Soils are of ecologically importance and harbour most animal taxa found on the terrestrial ecosystem. Springtails and earthworms are common soil animals and used as representatives in ecological impact assessment. In the present study, we identified radiation responsive transcripts in the springtail Folsomia candida and the earthworm Eisenia fetida using high-coverage expression profiling (HiCEP), and compared the transcript species between the soil animals. Identified transcripts in the springtail included the ones not known to be up-regulated in response to irradiation in mammals. Identified transcripts in the earthworm included the ones known to be up-regulated in mammals. Further comparative analyses are going on.
