Nuclear architecture and radiation induced chromosome aberrations: models and simulations

Knowledge of radiation track structure and its interaction with biological targets is a fundamental starting point in understanding the mechanisms underlying the induction of biological damage. In this context Monte Carlo codes are a powerful tool of investigation, allowing one to simulate both track structure and the features of the target(s) of interest at different scales, from nanometres (linear dimensions of DNA) to micrometres (linear dimensions of human cell nuclei and interphase chromosome territories). In the light of recent experimental findings on nuclear architecture, different approaches in modelling chromosome structure and aberration induction are discussed. In particular, a model is presented in which chromosome territories were explicitly described as subnuclear regions and aberration induction was modelled by coupling the structure of the target with that of the radiation track. Comparisons between model predictions and experimental results from the literature are also reported.