Ultrasoft X-ray sources

Capable of producing a range of characteristic ultrasoft X-rays: C_K (0.28keV), Al_K (1.49keV), Cu_L (0.96keV) & Ti_K (4.55keV) with dose rates up to ~50 Gy min^-1.

Used originally to study the variation in RBE as a function of electron energy. The low energy electrons track-ends produced are similar to those produced by all low-LET radiation and are believed to dominate the biological effect due to their increased effectiveness. Can also be used to irradiate cells with 1 mm wide stripes of x-rays for DNA damage induction and repair studies.

Ultrasoft x-ray stripe papers

• Reynolds et al (2012) The dynamics of Ku70/80 and DNA-PKcs at DSBs induced by ionizing radiation is dependent on the complexity of damage. Nucleic Acids Res. 40, 10821-31 [PMID: 23012265]
• Cornelissen et al (2011) Imaging DNA damage in vivo using γH2AX-targeted immunoconjugates, Cancer Res. 71, 4539-4549 [PMID: 21586614]
• Bauerschmidt et al (2011) Cohesin Phosphorylation and mobility of SMC1 at ionizing radiation induced DNA double strand breaks in human cells, Exp. Cell Res. 317, 330-337 [PMID: 21056556]
• Tambini et al (2010) The importance of xrcc2 in rad51-relate DNA damage repair, DNA Repair 9, 517-525  [PMID: 20189471].
• Bauerschmidt et al (2010) Cohesin promotes the repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in replicated chromatin, Nucleic Acids Research, 38, 477-487 [PMID: 19906707]
• Badie et al (2009) RAD51C facilitates checkpoint signaling by promoting CHK2 phosphorylation, J. Cell Biol. 185, 587-600 [PMID: 19451272]