DNA strand breaks induced by 0-4 eV electrons: the role of shape resonances.
Collisions of 0-4 eV electrons with thin DNA films are shown to produce single strand breaks. The yield is sharply structured as a function of electron energy and indicates the involvement of pi* shape resonances in the bond breaking process. The cross sections are comparable in magnitude to those observed in other compounds in the gas phase in which pi* electrons are transferred through the molecule to break a remote bond. The results therefore support aspects of a theoretical study by Barrios et al. [J. Phys. B 106, 7991 (2002)]] indicating that such a mechanism could produce strand breaks in DNA.
Martin
Frédéric
F
Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Burrow
Paul D
PD
Cai
Zhongli
Z
Cloutier
Pierre
P
Hunting
Darel
D
Sanche
Léon
L
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004583:Electrons; D016011:Normal Distribution
D004247:DNA