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DNA fragmentation by gamma radiation and electron beams using atomic force microscopy

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Abstract

Double-stranded pBS plasmid DNA was irradiated with gamma rays at doses ranging from 1 to 12 kGy and electron beams from 1 to 10 kGy. Fragment-size distributions were determined by direct visualization, using atomic force microscopy with nanometer-resolution operating in non-tapping mode, combined with an improved methodology. The fragment distributions from irradiation with gamma rays revealed discrete-like patterns at all doses, suggesting that these patterns are modulated by the base pair composition of the plasmid. Irradiation with electron beams, at very high dose rates, generated continuous distributions of highly shattered DNA fragments, similar to results at much lower dose rates found in the literature. Altogether, these results indicate that AFM could supplement traditional methods for high-resolution measurements of radiation damage to DNA, while providing new and relevant information.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research/IPEN-CNEN in São Paulo, Brazil, for the use of its irradiation facilities. This study was supported by FAPESP and CNPq, Brazilian funding agencies.

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Correspondence to João D. T. Arruda-Neto.

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González, L.N., Arruda-Neto, J.D.T., Cotta, M.A. et al. DNA fragmentation by gamma radiation and electron beams using atomic force microscopy. J Biol Phys 38, 531–542 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-012-9270-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-012-9270-z

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