Cerium-induced genotoxicity in Arabidopsis at environmentally relevant doses

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) test is a feasible method to evaluate the toxicity of environmental pollutants on vegetal organisms. Herein, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) plantlets following Cerium(Ce) treatment for 21 days were screened for DNA genetic alterations by DNA fingerprinting. Three primers amplified 12 mutated RAPD fragments in 0-100 umol·L-1Ce-treated Arabidopsis plantlets. Cloning and sequencing analysis of 6 representative mutated fragments revealed 99-100% homology with genes of MADS-box family protein, ABC transporter B family, RING-finger domain-containing protein, phosphoglucomutase, and noncoding regions, respectively, in Arabidopsis genome. Therefore, these altered loci are the early events in Ce-treated Arabidopsis seedlings and would greatly improve environmental risk assessment.