A bio-dosemeter that utilises isolated enzymes to detect ionising radiation.
The development of a biosensor for the detection of ionising radiation (biodosemeter) utilising the advantageous properties of the photosystem II (PSII) complex and its response to ionising radiation is reported. The transducer signal for this biosensor can be fluorescence, which is dependent on photosynthetic activity. Exposure of biological material to ionising radiation leads to a loss of function due to the destruction of critical structures. Radiation target theory predicts an exponential decrease in biochemical activity that is dependent on the absorbed radiation energy and directly proportional to the mass of the individual molecules possessing this activity. The activity is lost whenever the protein is hit since very high energy is transferred through the chain. Several approaches were used to optimise the immobilisation of PSII complexes to improve the sensitivity of the bio-dosemeter.
IBEV-ICN-CNR, Area della Ricerca di Roma, Via Salaria, km 29,3 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, RM, Italy.
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D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008954:Models, Biological; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000528:radiation effects; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000528:radiation effects; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000528:radiation effects
D004798:Enzymes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex