Single-strand breaks in oligodeoxyribonucleotides induced by fission neutrons and gamma radiation and measured by gel electrophoresis: protective effects of aminothiols

Journal of Radiation Research
C E SwenbergN E Geacintov

Abstract

The technique of high-resolution gel electrophoresis using oligodeoxyribonucleotides of known composition as model systems, offers a simple quantitative estimate of DNA damage in aqueous solution induced by ionizing radiation. The fraction of damaged DNA can be quantitatively defined in terms of the increased electrophoretic mobilities of the damaged oligonucleotides, relative to the mobility of the unirradiated and intact oligonucleotides. The usual direct strand breaks can be observed at gamma-ray dosages of 200 Gy. However, at a gamma-ray dosage of 400 Gy, only a broad background, attributed to heterogeneously and multiply damaged oligonucleotide fragments with overlapping and varying electrophoretic mobilities, can be distinguished. On the other hand, individual bands due to resolvable DNA fragments are evident even at dosages as high as 400 Gy for fission neutrons. When double-stranded oligonucleotides are exposed to gamma-ray dosages of 200 Gy, the fraction of damaged DNA approaches 30-40%. This damage can be almost completely suppressed (> 99%) if the irradiations are conducted in aqueous solutions in the presence of 0.5-1.0 mM concentrations of the thiols cysteamine or 3-(3-methylaminopropylamino)propanethiol (WR-151326...Continue Reading

Citations

May 11, 2000·Journal of Radiation Research·S EndoK Komatsu

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