title: Effects of ionizing radiation on biological molecules--mechanisms of damage and emerging methods of detection.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The detrimental effects of ionizing radiation (IR) involve a highly orchestrated series of events that are amplified by endogenous signaling and culminating in oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, proteins, and many metabolites. Despite the global impact of IR, the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue damage reveal that many biomolecules are chemoselectively modified by IR.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The development of high-throughput "omics" technologies for mapping DNA and protein modifications have revolutionized the study of IR effects on biological systems. Studies in cells, tissues, and biological fluids are used to identify molecular features or biomarkers of IR exposure and response and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their expression or synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this review, chemical mechanisms are described for IR-induced modifications of biomolecules along with methods for their detection. Included with the detection methods are crucial experimental considerations and caveats for their use. Additional factors critical to the cellular response to radiation, including alterations in protein expression, metabolomics, and epigenetic factors, are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Throughout the review, the synergy of combined "omics" technologies such as genomics and epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics is highlighted. These are anticipated to lead to new hypotheses to understand IR effects on biological systems and improve IR-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Section on Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reisz
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Weiling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Furdui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011506:Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species