DNA compaction plays a key role in radioprotection against double-strand breaks as revealed by single-molecule observation

Yoshikawa Y; Mori T; Magome N; Hibino K; Yoshikawa K

Chemical Physics Letters, Vol.456, No.1-3, 80-83, 2008

DOI10.1016/j.cplett.2008.03.009 Export Citation

DNA compaction plays a key role in radioprotection against double-strand breaks as revealed by single-molecule observation

Yoshikawa Y, Mori T, Magome N, Hibino K, Yoshikawa K

We performed single-DNA observation to measure double-strand breaks caused by gamma-ray irradiation. To analyze the efficiency of the breakage reaction in a semi-quantitative manner, we used T4 DNA, 166 kbp. The efficiency of gamma-ray-induced breakage for compact DNA in the presence of spermidine (3+) was similar to 1/25 of that for elongated DNA. This finding suggests that the primary protective effect of polyamines is due to the compaction of DNA. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.