A method of calculating initial DNA strand breakage following the decay of incorporated 125I. 1988

D E Charlton, and J L Humm
Physics Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Two sources of individual Auger electron spectra and an electron track code were used with a simple model of the DNA to successfully simulate the single-strand DNA breakage measured by Martin and Haseltine (1981). The conditions of the calculation were then extended to examine patterns of single-strand breaks in both strands of the DNA duplex to score double-strand breaks. The occurrences of five types of break were scored. The total number of double-strand breaks (dsb) per decay at the site of the decay was 0.90 and 0.65 for the different Auger electron spectra. It was shown that for mammalian cells an additional source of double-strand breaks from low LET radiation added approximately 0.17 dsb/decay to each, giving a final total of 1.07 and 0.85 dsb/decay for mammalian cells depending on the electron spectrum. Further is is shown that the energy deposition in the DNA from the iodine decay is very complex, with a broad range of energy depositions and products. Even for a particular energy deposited in the DNA different types of strand break are produced. These are identified and their probabilities calculated.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007457 Iodine Radioisotopes Unstable isotopes of iodine that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. I atoms with atomic weights 117-139, except I 127, are radioactive iodine isotopes. Radioisotopes, Iodine
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004277 DNA, Single-Stranded A single chain of deoxyribonucleotides that occurs in some bacteria and viruses. It usually exists as a covalently closed circle. Single-Stranded DNA,DNA, Single Stranded,Single Stranded DNA

Related Publications

D E Charlton, and J L Humm
January 2000, Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden),
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
January 1978, Current topics in radiation research quarterly,
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
January 1980, Radiation and environmental biophysics,
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
January 2006, Radiation protection dosimetry,
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
November 1994, International journal of radiation biology,
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
December 1974, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
D E Charlton, and J L Humm
January 2004, International journal of radiation biology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!