Single α-particle irradiation permits real-time visualization of RNF8 accumulation at DNA damaged sites

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 31:7:41764. doi: 10.1038/srep41764.

Abstract

As well as being a significant source of environmental radiation exposure, α-particles are increasingly considered for use in targeted radiation therapy. A better understanding of α-particle induced damage at the DNA scale can be achieved by following their tracks in real-time in targeted living cells. Focused α-particle microbeams can facilitate this but, due to their low energy (up to a few MeV) and limited range, α-particles detection, delivery, and follow-up observations of radiation-induced damage remain difficult. In this study, we developed a thin Boron-doped Nano-Crystalline Diamond membrane that allows reliable single α-particles detection and single cell irradiation with negligible beam scattering. The radiation-induced responses of single 3 MeV α-particles delivered with focused microbeam are visualized in situ over thirty minutes after irradiation by the accumulation of the GFP-tagged RNF8 protein at DNA damaged sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alpha Particles* / adverse effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Damage / radiation effects*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Time-Lapse Imaging
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • RNF8 protein, human
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases