Radiation interaction with DNA

Abstract

We developed a model to describe the radiation-DNA interaction in water solution. The model is based on some important aspects of the Bethe Theory for the ionizing process, and on the assumption that the direct interaction between the incident particle and the DNA molecule is negligible in comparison with the indirect effect. This assumption can always be true under controlled conditions. The results show that the number of damages induced by radiation depends on the accumulated dose, on parameters related only to the medium properties, and on the DNA structure, but not on the incident particle. A few applications of the model are discussed, and results are successfully compared with experimental data. New experiments are proposed.

Evaluating experimental molecular physics studies of radiation damage in DNA*

“…Due to their complexity it is now possible to deal not only with simple break formation, but also to account for the influence of irradiation of the DNA environment, i.e. in a living cell, and to simultaneously account for secondary species attack [59][60][61][62]. Moreover, an accurate examination of the mode of action of various incident particles can be performed at the same time [14,63].…”

The DNA concentration effect on DNA radiation damage induced by 7Li ions and γ rays

“…However, these studies were focused on DNA damage induction at low-LET radiation. Recent research on radiation damage of purified DNA molecules in water solution [8,9] tried to find out more general and more original attributes of DNA damage induced by high-LET radiation. In this work, the plasmid DNA samples were irradiated by the same dose of 7 Li ions or γ rays with various DNA concentrations in the presence or absence of the free radical scavenger (Mannitol).…”