Breaking DNA strands by extreme-ultraviolet laser pulses in vacuum

Eva Nováková, Luděk Vyšín, Tomáš Burian, Libor Juha, Marie Davídková, Viliam Múčka, Václav Čuba, Michael E. Grisham, Scott Heinbuch, and Jorge J. Rocca
Phys. Rev. E 91, 042718 – Published 29 April 2015

Abstract

Ionizing radiation induces a variety of DNA damages including single-strand breaks (SSBs), double-strand breaks (DSBs), abasic sites, modified sugars, and bases. Most theoretical and experimental studies have been focused on DNA strand scissions, in particular production of DNA double-strand breaks. DSBs have been proven to be a key damage at a molecular level responsible for the formation of chromosomal aberrations, leading often to cell death. We have studied the nature of DNA damage induced directly by the pulsed 46.9-nm (26.5 eV) radiation provided by an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) capillary-discharge Ne-like Ar laser (CDL). Doses up to 45 kGy were delivered with a repetition rate of 3 Hz. We studied the dependence of the yield of SSBs and DSBs of a simple model of DNA molecule (pBR322) on the CDL pulse fluence. Agarose gel electrophoresis method was used for determination of both SSB and DSB yields. The action cross sections of the single- and double-strand breaks of pBR322 plasmid DNA in solid state were determined. We observed an increase in the efficiency of strand-break induction in the supercoiled DNA as a function of laser pulse fluence. Results are compared to those acquired at synchrotron radiation facilities and other sources of extreme-ultraviolet and soft x-ray radiation.

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  • Received 10 January 2015
  • Revised 30 March 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.042718

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Eva Nováková1, Luděk Vyšín1,2,*, Tomáš Burian1, Libor Juha1, Marie Davídková3, Viliam Múčka2, Václav Čuba2, Michael E. Grisham4, Scott Heinbuch4, and Jorge J. Rocca4

  • 1Department of Radiation and Chemical Physics, Institute of Physics CAS, Na Slovance 2, Prague 8, 182 21, Czech Republic
  • 2Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 7, Prague 1, 115 19, Czech Republic
  • 3Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Institute of Nuclear Physics CAS, Na Truhlářce 39/64, Prague 8, 180 86, Czech Republic
  • 4NSF ERC for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1373, USA

  • *vysin@fzu.cz

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Vol. 91, Iss. 4 — April 2015

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