Multiple DNA damages induced by water radiolysis demonstrated using a dynamic Monte Carlo code

Kai, Takeshi; Toigawa, Tomohiro; Matsuya, Yusuke*; Hirata, Yuho; Tsuchida, Hidetsugu*; Ito, Yuma*; Yokoya, Akinari*

Communications Chemistry (Internet), 8, p.60_1 - 60_9, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01453-x

Radiation DNA damage is formed from direct and indirect effects. The direct effect is the interaction between DNA and a radiation, while the indirect effect is the chemical reaction between DNA and radiolytic chemical species. We believed that when the direct effect is induced, multiple lesions are formed within 10 base pairs (about 3.4 nm) of DNA. The damage reduces repair efficiency and induces biological effects. In this study, DNA damage induced by only indirect effects was quantitatively evaluated. Our results indicated that the multiple damage is formed when only 10s of eV energy is deposited to water in the vicinity of DNA, although its formation probability is less than 1%. In other words, the possibility of late biological effects cannot be excluded simply by imparting energy to water in the extreme vicinity of DNA without direct interaction between radiation and DNA. Our results are one of the most important findings for understanding low-dose radiation risk.