Double-strand breaks in DNA induced by the K-shell ionization of calcium atoms

A calcium (Ca)-DNA complex in a buffered aqueous solution was irradiated with monochromatic x-rays at around the K-shell absorption edge of the Ca atom. The energies were 4.030 and 4.071 keV, which correspond to slightly below and above the K-shell absorption edge of Ca (4.047 keV). The number of double-strand breaks (DSB) and single-strand breaks (SSB) per one molecule of Col E1 DNA was calculated using Povirk's equation after the electrophoretic separation of three forms of plasmid DNA (forms I, II and III, which are supercoiled closed circular, open circular and linear, respectively). In a solution with Ca ions, the DSB yield in DNA irradiated with 4.071 keV x-rays is 1.27 times higher than that with 4.030 keV x-rays. In contrast, in the absence of Ca ions, the DSB yield is the same at both the x-ray energies. The SSB yields are also independent of the x-ray energy in the presence and absence of Ca ions. A reference experiment regarding irradiation with 60Co gamma-rays shows that the ratio of the DSB yield to the SSB yield upon irradiation with 4.071 keV x-rays is higher (factor of 3.2) than that with 60Co gamma-rays.