Soft x rays as a tool to investigate radiation-sensitive sites in mammalian cells
It is now clear that the initial geometrical distribution of primary radiation products in irradiated biological matter is fundamental to the observed end point (cell killing, mutation induction, chromosome aberrations, etc.). In recent years much evidence has accumulated indicating that for all radiations, physical quantities averaged over cellular dimensions (micrometers) are not good predictors of biological effect, and that energy-deposition processes at the nanometer level are critical. Thus irradiation of cells with soft x rays whose secondary electrons have ranges of the order of nanometers is a unique tool for investigating different models for predicting the biological effects of radiation. We demonstrate techniques whereby the biological response of the cell and the physical details of the energy deposition processes may be separated or factorized, so that given the response of a cellular system to, say, soft x rays, the response of the cell to any other radiation may be predicted. The special advantages of soft x rays for eliciting this information and also information concerning the geometry of the radiation sensitive structures within the cell are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Columbia Univ., New York (USA). Coll. of Physicians and Surgeons
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5427956
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-83-3156; CONF-8310172-6; ON: DE84003775
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 0447; Conference: Advances in soft x-ray science and technology conference, Upton, NY, USA, 17 Oct 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Low-Dose Studies with Focused X-rays in Cell and Tissue Models: Mechanisms of Bystander and Genomic Instability Responses
Energy deposition and radiation quality of radon and radon daughters. Final report
Related Subjects
ANIMAL CELLS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
X RADIATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATION METHODS
CELL KILLING
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
MUTAGENESIS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MUTATIONS
RADIATIONS
560121* - Radiation Effects on Cells- External Source- (-1987)