Differential gene expression in chronically irradiated herbaceous species from the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

All studied species were characterized by upregulation of the homolog, encoding chlorophyll / binding protein, at radioactively contaminated plots. An increase in the expression of genes associated with water and hydrogen peroxide transport, intensity of photosynthesis, and stress responses (homolog of aquaporin for ; homologs of aquaporin and transcription factor for ; homolog of CBL-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase for . ) was revealed. The methodological approach for studying gene expression in non-model plant species is described, which may allow large-scale screening studies of candidate genes in various plant species abundant in radioactively contaminated areas.