A team of researchers from the University of Iceland found new degradation pathways that occur universally when DNA strands are exposed to metal ions from the groups of alkali metals or alkali-ash metals.
[Translation by Dr. Nachmani Moshe]
Scientists now have a better understanding of how short strands of DNA break down in a fraction of a second.
A team of researchers from the University of Iceland found new degradation pathways that occur universally when DNA strands are exposed to metal ions from the groups of alkali or alkali-ash metals. These ions tend to convert the protons present in the DNA skeleton and at the same time initiate the adoption of a more active structural configuration that tends to disintegrate. The new findings could contribute to improving the effectiveness of radiation treatments for cancer through a greater understanding of how the radiation, and more importantly - its by-products, active intermediate particles, react with the complex DNA structures.
In radiation treatments for cancer, it is not the radiation itself that directly damages the DNA strands, but the active particles obtained from it, which leads to the creation of electrically charged intermediates. In this framework, the scientists studied one of these charged intermediates that exists in the form of stable hexamers of DNA "A. To this end, the scientists prepared a number of conjugates consisting of nucleotides and metal ions that include between zero and six metal ions. In the next step, the researchers tested the decomposition reactions of the different conjugates using the method of time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. By comparing the decay rate of the different forms, the researchers were able to deduce the mechanism by which the various metal ions cause the DNA to break down.
The researchers discovered that the DNA degradation based on metal ions is universal for all alkali and alkali metal ions, such as lithium (Li+), potassium (K+), rubidium (Rb+), magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+). The researchers reached the same The conclusion was also for sodium ions, which are the most common ions in nature, in the form of sodium chloride, which is normal table salt A sufficiently large nucleotide, the study shows, these ions initiate an unexpected DNA degradation reaction.
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One response
The idea is to do the screenings in pulses (jitters) to minimize damage. This is based on an experience from the past, I received radiation until I was bleeding (the treatment was stopped before its time).