Induction of single strand breaks, and base lesions in plasmid DNA films induced by carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen KLL Auger process

Fujii, Kentaro; Yokoya, Akinari; Shikazono, Naoya

To investigate the KLL Auger effect of constituent atoms on DNA damage, dry plasmid DNA (pUC18) films were irradiated with synchrotron monochromatic ultrasoft X-rays. Four photon energies, 270, 380, 435, and 560 eV, respectively, were chosen for the irradiation experiments. Irradiated plasmid DNA was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the yields of strand breaks were determined by measuring the band intensities of the separated closed circular, open circular and linear forms of the plasmid DNA. The yields of base lesions and clustered damage site including at least one base lesion were determined by the post-irradiation-treatment of the DNA with enzymatic probes (Fpg and Endo III) which convert base lesions into detectable strand breaks.