Ionizing Radiation and Translation Control: A Link to Radiation Hormesis?

Usha Kabilan (1) , Tyson E Graber (2) , Tommy Alain (2) , Dmitry Klokov (3, 1)

1 Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
2 CHEO - Children's hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute [Ottawa, canada]
3 IRSN/PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRTOX - Laboratoire de radiotoxicologie et radiobiologie expérimentale

Protein synthesis, or mRNA translation, is one of the most energy-consuming functions in cells. Translation of mRNA into proteins is thus highly regulated by and integrated with upstream and downstream signaling pathways, dependent on various transacting proteins and cis-acting elements within the substrate mRNAs. Under conditions of stress, such as exposure to ionizing radiation, regulatory mechanisms reprogram protein synthesis to translate mRNAs encoding proteins that ensure proper cellular responses. Interestingly, beneficial responses to low-dose radiation exposure, known as radiation hormesis, have been described in several models, but the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon are largely unknown. In this review, we explore how differences in cellular responses to high- vs. low-dose ionizing radiation are realized through the modulation of molecular pathways with a particular emphasis on the regulation of mRNA translation control.

Mots clés: ionizing radiation; protein synthesis; mRNA translation; low doses; radiation hormesis

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Usha Kabilan, Tyson E Graber, Tommy Alain, Dmitry Klokov. Ionizing Radiation and Translation Control: A Link to Radiation Hormesis?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, 21 (18), pp.6650. ⟨10.3390/ijms21186650⟩. ⟨irsn-04021207⟩