Cel
The effects of ionising radiation on biological material have been studied on the tissue scale for many years. However, research to understand the processes at a molecular level has begun only recently. Relatively few experiments have been carried out on t he effects of ionising rays on key biological molecules (biomolecules) such as DNA and its constituent bases. Cross-sectional results for these interactions are highly relevant to the use of radiation in medicine.Today it is possible to isolate biomolecul es including uracil, thymine, and adenine (bases of RNA and DNA) in the gas phase. Further techniques have recently been pioneered at the Institut Galilee, Paris to produce and characterise clusters of these molecules. The IPM group are currently developin g an experiment comprising an original double mass spectrometer and a cluster source which incorporates these new techniques. This project will initially focus upon the completion of the experimental system.The apparatus will be used to study the consequen ces of high energy proton impact on a biomolecule surrounded by a fixed number of water molecules. The experiment thus represents a novel perspective spanning two traditionally independent research areas: radiobiology and the study of gas phase molecules. Biomolecule - water reactions initiated by the impact of high-velocity ions will be observed for the first time, providing important new quantitative data. Experiments will be carried out for proton impact velocities of the order of the Bragg peak (c/137). A number of cancer therapy techniques are based upon the observation that such incident radiation can dramatically degrade the reparability of DNA.The project will be carried out within the EU COST P9 network Radiation Damage in Biomolecular Systems appro ved for funding from 2003 to 2007. The interest, facilities and expertise within Europe today provide the ideal opportunity to develop new experiments in this field.
Dziedzina nauki
Słowa kluczowe
Zaproszenie do składania wniosków
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-12
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