Pictures, progress, and perplexities: the immediate cell biological effects of ionizing radiation.

摘要

An unexpected image made by an invisible beam precipitated the discovery of X-rays in the waning days of the 19th century. The usefulness and dangers of this new discovery soon became clear, emphasizing the importance of DNA damage recognition and repair after exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). One hundred years later, new images of the immediate effects of ionizing radiation have once again ignited excitement among investigators. The combination of advanced imaging techniques with new reagents targeting molecular components of the cellular DNA damage response have enabled visualization of sites of DNA damage, resulting in fresh insights into the immediate cell biological effects of IR. This review will review these advances, highlighting recent progress as well as critical questions that remain unanswered.