PURPOSE: This short review summarizes the data obtained with various techniques for measuring the yields of double strand breaks (dsb) produced by particle radiations of differing linear energy transfer (LET) in order to obtain relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Studies aimed at understanding the interactions of different types of radiation with cellular DNA have monitored the yields of DNA dsb versus radiation quality. Several techniques have been used to measure dsb yields in mammalian cells, and these include: neutral sedimentation gradients, filter elution and more recently pulsed field gel electrophoresis techniques (PFGE). Recent developments in PFGE have allowed the measurement of both the yields and the distribution of breaks within the genome, which go part of the way to explaining the RBE values close to 1.0 previously measured using other approaches with various radiation qualities. It is clear that future studies to determine the effectiveness of radiations of differing LET must use techniques that determine both yields and distributions of dsb, and assays need to be developed to allow these measurements at biologically relevant doses.
PURPOSE: This short review summarizes the data obtained with various techniques for measuring the yields of double strand breaks (dsb) produced by particle radiations of differing linear energy transfer (LET) in order to obtain relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Studies aimed at understanding the interactions of different types of radiation with cellular DNA have monitored the yields of DNA dsb versus radiation quality. Several techniques have been used to measure dsb yields in mammalian cells, and these include: neutral sedimentation gradients, filter elution and more recently pulsed field gel electrophoresis techniques (PFGE). Recent developments in PFGE have allowed the measurement of both the yields and the distribution of breaks within the genome, which go part of the way to explaining the RBE values close to 1.0 previously measured using other approaches with various radiation qualities. It is clear that future studies to determine the effectiveness of radiations of differing LET must use techniques that determine both yields and distributions of dsb, and assays need to be developed to allow these measurements at biologically relevant doses.
Authors: Katia Vandenbulcke; Filip De Vos; Fritz Offner; Jan Philippé; Christos Apostolidis; Roger Molinet; Tuomo K Nikula; Klaus Bacher; Virginie de Gelder; Anne Vral; Christophe Lahorte; Hubert Thierens; Rudi A Dierckx; Guido Slegers Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2003-07-03 Impact factor: 9.236
Authors: J Splinter; B Jakob; M Lang; K Yano; J Engelhardt; S W Hell; D J Chen; M Durante; G Taucher-Scholz Journal: Mutagenesis Date: 2010-02-18 Impact factor: 3.000