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The LET dependence of interphase chromosome breakage and rejoining in two mammalian cell lines

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6973804

Chromosomal breakage and rejoining was examined in the G{sub 1}-phase of a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-tsH1) cell line using a technique known as premature chromosome condensation. The initial level of breakage was measured in cells exposed to x-rays and 9 particle beams covering a LET range of more than 3 orders of magnitude. The rate and extent of rejoining of interphase chromosome breaks was measured in cells exposed to 4 particle beams having LET values from 0.56 to 183 keV/{mu}m. Cell survival dose-response curves were obtained for x-rays and 4 particle beams having LET values in the range of 1.5 to 2700 keV/{mu}m. The average number of chromosome breaks per particle traversal of the cell nucleus rose steadily from {approximately}0.006 to 11 breaks/cell as the LET increased from 0.56 to 2700 keV/{mu}m. Chromosome breaks were Poisson distributed within the G{sub 1}-phase cell population after exposure to low LET radiations. The rate of rejoining of interphase chromosome breaks showed no clear LET dependence. However the proportion of apparently nonrejoining breaks was observed to be LET-dependent, increasing nearly 4-fold as the LET rose from 0.56 to 183 keV/{mu}m. Experiments were also conducted with a human/hamster hybrid cell line, UV24C2-3, exposed to x-rays and a Neon-ion particle beam.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6973804
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English