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Electron Resonance Decay into a Biological Function: Decrease in Viability of E. coli Transformed by Plasmid DNA

S Kouass Sahbani1, P Cloutier1, A D Bass1

  • 1Groupe en Sciences des Radiations, Département de médecine nucléaire et Radiobiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|January 2, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transient negative ions (TNIs) can damage DNA and reduce bacterial viability. This study demonstrates TNIs

Keywords:
DNAcell transformation efficiencylow-energy electronsradiation damagetransient anions

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Radiation Chemistry

Background:

  • Transient negative ions (TNIs) are formed during low-energy electron interactions with molecules.
  • TNIs are known to damage large biomolecules, including DNA.
  • Their role in biological processes, particularly cancer radiotherapy, remains largely unverified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct impact of TNIs on a biological process.
  • To verify the hypothesis that TNIs contribute to cell mutagenesis and death.
  • To detect TNIs in the electron-energy dependence of bacterial transformation efficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Irradiation of pGEM-3ZfL(-) plasmid DNA with electrons (0.5–18 eV).
  • Transformation of E. coli bacteria with irradiated plasmids.
  • Measurement of transformation efficiency as a function of electron energy.

Main Results:

  • A decrease in transformation efficiency was observed at specific electron energies (5.5 and 9.5 eV).
  • These energy levels correspond to known TNI resonances.
  • The results indicate TNIs can reduce bacterial cell viability.

Conclusions:

  • TNIs are detectable in the electron-energy dependence of biological processes.
  • TNIs can decrease cell viability, supporting their role in radiation-induced biological damage.
  • This provides direct evidence for TNIs' impact on cellular function.