Molecular Lesion Spectra as Radiation Signatures: Risk Assessment and a Potential Medical Tool

             Sean P. McGlynn and Kresimir Rupnik
             Chemistry Department, The Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA

New post-genomic and proteomic experimental technologies are in process of development.However,a corresponding integrative biophysical modeling of the events along the spatio-temporal path of molecular changes that can make use of that new information seems to be more difficult because it demands a close collaboration between physicists, chemists, biologists and medical professionals. McGlynn and Rupnik (1991) suggested such an integrative approach to the study of post-radiation effects, namely a radiation signature paradigm. Its aim was the  protection of populations against radiation damage.  The modeling utilizes

  1) the new knowledge provided by molecular studies of radiation-matter interactions, particularly  databases involving lesions generated in DNA,  proteins and bio-molecules as a result of changes in their intercellular and extracellular environments; and
  2) newly developing adaptive and genetic models for parallel distributive processing.
Using these adaptive models, it is possible to extract and quantify radiation signatures and/or markers, even in rather uncertain and unpredictable conditions. Adaptive models also aid the interpretation of the  results. The radiation signatures can provide appropriate lesion sets for real world medicine, and can be used to develop a low-dose, small, personalized monitoring
capability for fast radiation exposure estimates.