title: Evidence for the dominance of direct excitation of DNA in the formation of strand breaks in cells following irradiation.
abstract: The yields of radiation-induced strand breaks measured in a plasmid DNA irradiated as a 'dry film' are similar to those measured in SV40 DNA irradiated in a cellular environment (Roots et al. 1985). This suggests a common mechanism, namely direct excitation of the DNA rather than indirectly inflicted damage from radiation-induced water radicals. This result is discussed in terms of a recently proposed mechanism of excitation transfer in DNA following direct excitation by ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: MRC Radiobiology Unit, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, U.K.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Baverstock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Will
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004247:DNA