Electron spin echo study of long-lived radicals which cause mutation in gamma-ray irradiated mammalian cells.

Long-lived radicals, produced by gamma-ray irradiation of mammalian cells at room temperature, cause mutation and morphological transformation in the cells. The local environment near the long-lived radicals in irradiated cells was investigated here by the analysis of electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectra. The number of hydrogen (deuterium) atoms surrounding the long-lived radical, which may correspond to the number of water molecules, was estimated roughly as one or two. It is postulated that the long-lived radicals are generated in the interior of biopolymers. The radicals are not produced by the reaction of OH radicals, but mainly by the decomposition of biopolymer which absorbed directly the energy of the ionizing radiation.