Processing of bistranded abasic DNA clusters in γ-irradiated human hematopoietic cells

Clustered DNA damages—two or more lesions on opposing strands and within one or two helical turns—are formed in cells by ionizing radiation or radiomimetic antitumordrugs. They are hypothesized to be difficult to repair, and thus are critical biological damages. Since individual abasic sites can be cytotoxic or mutagenic, abasicDNAclusters are likely to have significant cellular impact. Using a novel approach for distinguishing abasic clusters that are very closely spaced (putrescine cleavage) or less closely spaced (Nfo protein cleavage), we measured induction and processing of abasic clusters in 28SC human monocytes that were exposed to ionizing radiation. g-rays induced 1 double-strand break: 1.3 putrescine-detected abasic clusters: 0.8 Nfodetected abasic clusters. After irradiation, the 28SC cells rejoined double-strand breaks efficiently within 24 h. In contrast, in these cells, the levels of abasic clusters decreased very slowly over 14 days to background levels. In vitro repair experiments that used 28SC cell extracts further support the idea of slow processing of specific, closely spaced abasic clusters. Although some clusters were removed by active cellular repair, a substantial number was apparently decreased by ‘splitting’ during DNA replication and subsequent cell division. The existence of abasic clusters in 28SC monocytes, several days after irradiation suggests that they constitute persistent damages that could lead to mutation or cell killing. Originally published in Nucleic Acids Research 2004 Vol. 32, No. 18

Interplanetary and Interstellar Dust Observed by the Wind/WAVES Electric Field Instrument

Observations of hypervelocity dust particles impacting the Wind spacecraft are reported here for the first time using data from the WindWAVES electric field instrument. A unique combination of rotating spacecraft, amplitude-triggered high-cadence waveform collection, and electric field antenna configuration allow the first direct determination of dust impact direction by any spacecraft using electric field data. Dust flux and impact direction data indicate that the observed dust is approximately micron-sized with both interplanetary and interstellar populations. Nanometer radius dust is not detected by Wind during times when nanometer dust is observed on the STEREO spacecraft and both spacecraft are in close proximity. Determined impact directions suggest that interplanetary dust detected by electric field instruments at 1 AU is dominated by particles on bound trajectories crossing Earths orbit, rather than dust with hyperbolic orbits

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on three research projects, with one broken into two subsections.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Contract NSR-22-009-120)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force) under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on five research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-7046)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Contract NSR-22-009-120)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U, S. Air Force, under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E)U. S. Navy (Office of Naval Research) under Contract N00014-67-A-0204-000

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on seven research projects.U. S. Navy (Office of Naval Research) under Contract N00014-67-A-0204-0009National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-7046)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Contract NSR-22-009-120)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force, Under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on seven research projects.M. I. T. Sloan Fund for Basic ResearchNational Science Foundation (Grant GP-8415)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U. S. Air Force) under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL 22-009-016