RAD-NANO-BIOMOL · Irradiation of model biomolecular nano-systems
7РП — „Хора“ (Действия „Мария Кюри“)
- Период
- 2008-02-01 → 2011-01-31
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 45 000 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- MC-ERG
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Молекулните връзки в основите на ДНК и РНК се анализират чрез облъчване с лазерни импулси. Това помага за по-доброто разбиране на механизмите, чрез които йонизиращото лъчение предизвиква мутации или рак.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
Irradiation of model biomolecular nano-systems
The exposure of living tissue to ionizing radiation can initiate mutations or cancers, effects that can be traced to the modification of DNA. Although sophisticated models of radiation effects are available, considerable refinements are necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms on the molecular scale. As part of a major multi-disciplinary response to this challenge, this project was centered on probing the effects of intermolecular bonding on the excited states, ionization energies, and fragmentation patterns of DNA bases and related biomolecules. We have developed a new apparatus (Fig.1) at the Open University for multi-photon ionization (MPI) experiments on DNA / RNA bases and their hydrated clusters. Ions and cluster ions produced by successive photon absorption in ns laser pulses were identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In the UV wavelengths used (220-230 nm), the simplest conceivable ionization scheme for these molecules is 2-photon absorption via a singlet * electronic excited state. However fast relaxation and dissociation can lead to more complex pathways requiring higher photon orders. The data acquisition system enabled ion flight times and photon fluence to be recorded on a pulse-by-pulse basis. Allied to small fluctuations in laser pulse intensity, this provided a novel and efficient means to determine the photon order for the production of specific ions.
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
This project is centered upon the experimental study of ionization induced processes in mixed clusters as model systems for complex environments. The first objective is to compare the irradiation of a molecule within a cluster with the case of the molecule in isolation, extending to the investigation of different types of radiation upon clusters of different sizes, compositions, and charge. In addition to their relevance to fundamental aspects of molecular and statistical physics, these experiments will help to bridge the “complexity gap” between the current understanding of radiation effects in the gas phase and in a biological medium. This represents a major current research challenge for physicists, chemists, and biologists, with important applications in quantifying the effects of radiation exposure, in particular during cancer therapies. A mobile cluster source will be constructed at the Open University (UK) in order to carry out 2-photon ionization experiments which probe the effects of solvated water molecules upon the excited states of DNA and RNA base molecules and the associated dissociation pathways. The apparatus will be transported to Queen’s University Belfast to perform the first ion impact experiments upon these model systems, enabling analogies to be drawn with processes initiated in hadron-therapy treatments. Further novel experiments will be carried out at the Nuclear Physics Institute of Lyon probing collisions between protons and mass-selected nucleobase-water cluster ions. The integrated research program will advance the understanding of the roles of specific molecules and inter-molecular processes in radiation induced damage to DNA and can thereby improve the reliability of bio-medical simulations. An MC reintegration grant is sought for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer and to finance a PhD studentship in partnership with the Open University: key elements to enhance the development and impact of this research.
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- THE OPEN UNIVERSITY · Milton KeynesКоординаторОбединеното кралство
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз