Neutral Products Desorption from DNA Thin Films Induced by Low-Energy Electrons (0.5-20 eV)

Abstract

International audienceLow-energy electrons (LEEs) are produced in great amount in the biological medium, when submitted to high-energy radiations. They have the ability to induce strand breaks in the DNA duplex, as proven by electrophoresis analysis of irradiated dry deposits. LEE interactions with target molecules induce the formation of different species such as anions, cations, radicals and neutrals. The desorption of anionic species from oligonucleotides and DNA under LEEs irradiation has been intensively explored. The involved mechanisms and sites were successfully identified, including the resonant formation of transient negative ions (TNI) below 15 eV. However, the desorption of neutral products was less explored [4], due to their difficult detection. Exploring this aspect will provide additional information and complete the picture of the dissociating pathways followed by TNIs