Measurement of DNA Size by Fluorescence-Fluctuation Spectroscopy

摘要

This report covers research on measuring the size of very large DNA molecules by fluorescence-fluctuation spectroscopy. The primary reason was to measure the formation of DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian cells by agents such as ionizing radiation, and to measure the repair of these breaks. Fluorescence-fluctuation spectroscopy was employed because it is known to be able to measure the size of DNA of molecular weight greater than 10 exp 9 (Weissman, et al., 1976). Most of this report is devoted to the techniques of fluorescent fluctuation spectroscopy. Using the procedures described here, it is likely that measurements could be made of DNA of molecular weight 10 exp 10 , which would be formed in mammalian cells given 1000 rads of x-rays. (ERA citation 07:062115)