Development of the new monitoring method for radiation exposure by using polymerase chain reaction

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04939
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 31010:Nuclear engineering-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: MATUO YOUICHIROU 福井大学, 学術研究院工学系部門, 准教授 (90568883)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 泉 佳伸 福井大学, 附属国際原子力工学研究所, 教授 (60252582)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 放射線 / DNA損傷 / 放射線影響

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we focused on the fact that the amplification rate by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is proportional to the amount of template DNA in a sample and developed a method to evaluate the amount of intact template DNA. As an item to consider, we conducted a verification that simulated actual usage conditions. We also evaluated DNA damage when irradiated with gamma rays, low-LET radiation, and carbon rays, which are high LET. Furthermore, by treating DNA irradiated with gamma rays with an enzyme that converts AP sites and oxidized bases into strand breaks, it has been shown that it is possible to differentiate the types of DNA damage using PCR.

Free Research Field

放射線生物学、原子力工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

DNAなどの生体分子への放射線の影響を直接的に検出・評価することにより線量評価を行う従来の手法は、感度が低く、低線量の放射線領域に適用することは難しい。本研究は、PCRという分子生物学の分野で用いられる技術を用いた、DNA鎖切断の評価に基づく新しい個人被ばく線量計開発を見据えた挑戦的な研究である。従来の物理的・化学的作用に基づく線量計に加えて、生体分子を用いた線量計の開発は、線量計測手法の選択の幅を拡げ、原子力・放射線・医療関係などの現場に対しても意義が大きいと考えられる。また、放射線影響に基づく線量評価から放射線影響の評価までの幅広い分野に適用できる可能性を有する。