A model for interphase chromosomes and evaluation of radiation-induced aberrations

Abstract Holley, W. R., Mian, I. S., Park, S. J., Rydberg, B. and Chatterjee, A. A Model for Interphase Chromosomes and Evaluation of Radiation-Induced Aberrations. Radiat. Res. 158, 568–580 (2002). We have developed a theoretical model for evaluating radiation-induced chromosomal exchanges by explicitly taking into account interphase (G0/G1) chromosome structure, nuclear organization of chromosomes, the production of double-strand breaks (DSBs), and the subsequent rejoinings in a faithful or unfaithful manner. Each of the 46 chromosomes for human lymphocytes (40 chromosomes for mouse lymphocytes) is modeled as a random polymer inside a spherical volume. The chromosome spheres are packed randomly inside a spherical nucleus with an allowed overlap controlled by a parameter Ω. The rejoining of DSBs is determined by a Monte Carlo procedure using a Gaussian proximity function with an interaction range parameter σ. Values of Ω and σ have been found which yield calculated results of interchromosomal aberration ...