A Spectroscopic Study for the Radiation Damage to Bio-Molecules under the Water Solution

Abstract

A new spectroscopic research for radiation damage to DNA and related molecules is proposed, which is made possible using a liquid micro-jet technique for bio-solution under vacuum in combination with site-selective excitation using a soft X-ray synchrotron radiation. Described is the present state of research on the selective primary radiation interaction onto base moieties of nucleotides. Spectra of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at energies around the nitrogen K-edge for nucleotides in aqueous solutions are presented. Selective excitation of a base moiety using a soft X-ray synchrotron radiation allows us to investigate the interaction of the base moiety with water solvent. We discuss the change of spectral character of XANES which reveals to the structural change of the base moiety under different pH condition of solution. A new scope for cooperative direct and indirect primary radiation effets is given.