The Yield, processing, and biological consequences of clustered DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation

Shikazono, Naoya; Noguchi, Miho; Fujii, Kentaro; Urushibara, Ayumi*; Yokoya, Akinari

After living cells are exposed to ionizing radiation, a variety of chemical modifications of DNA are induced either directly by ionization of DNA or indirectly through interactions with water-derived radicals. Clustered DNA damage, which is defined as two or more of such lesions within one to two helical turns of DNA induced by a single radiation track, is considered to be a unique feature of ionizing radiation. A double strand break (DSB) is a type of clustered DNA damage. Formation and repair of DSBs have been studied in great detail over the years as they have been linked to important biological endpoints. Although non-DSB clustered DNA damage has received less attention, there is growing evidence of its biological significance. This review focuses on the current understanding of (1) the yield of non-DSB clustered damage induced by ionizing radiation (2) the processing, and (3) biological consequences of non-DSB clustered DNA damage.