The concept of DNA "repair centers" and the meaning of radiationinduced foci (RIF) in human cells have remained controversial. RIFs are characterized by the local recruitment of DNA damage sensing proteins such as p53 binding protein (53BP1). Here, we provide strong evidence for the existence of repair centers. We used live imaging and mathematical fitting of RIF kinetics to show that RIF induction rate increases with increasing radiation dose, whereas the rate at which RIFs disappear decreases. We show that multiple DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) 1 to 2 μm apart can rapidly cluster into repair centers. Correcting mathematically for the dose dependence of induction/resolution rates, we observe an absolute RIF yield that is surprisingly much smaller at higher doses: 15 RIF∕Gy after 2 Gy exposure compared to approximately 64 RIF∕Gy after 0.1 Gy. Cumulative RIF counts from time lapse of 53BP1-GFP in human breast cells confirmed these results. The standard model currently in use applies a linear scale, extrapolating cancer risk from high doses to low doses of ionizing radiation. However, our discovery of DSB clustering over such large distances casts considerable doubts on the general assumption that risk to ionizing radiation is proportional to dose, and instead provides a mechanism that could more accurately address risk dose dependency of ionizing radiation. DNA damage-sensing proteins localize at sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) within seconds to minutes following ionizing radiation (IR) exposure, resulting in the formation of immunofluorescently stainable nuclear domains referred to as radiation-induced foci (RIF) (1-3). RIF numbers are routinely used to assess the amount of DNA damage and repair kinetics after different treatments (4). However, there is a controversy surrounding the question of whether there is a 1∶1 correspondence between RIF and DSBs. For example, pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis suggests that DSBs decay exponentially with time immediately after exposure (5). In contrast, DNA damage-sensing proteins do not instantaneously detect DSBs, leading to delayed kinetics for both detection and resolution. More specifically, the maximum number of 53BP1 or γH2AX RIF is not reached until 15 to 30 min after exposure, and the yield of DSBs predicted by RIF is typically lower than the expected 25-40 DSB∕Gy measured by PFGE (4).Dose response provides another assay for assessing the relationship between DSBs and RIF. Based on theoretical Monte Carlo simulations and PFGE measurements (6, 7), the frequency of DSBs should be highly correlated with radiation dose. Confirming this prediction, two research groups reported that RIF number is proportional to radiation dosage from 1 mGy to 2 Gy (8, 9). In both studies, methods were applied to identify "real" RIF at low doses, where frequencies may be close to background levels before IR (e.g., 10 mGy would lead to about 0.3 DSB∕cell). They either used cells with very low γH2AX background foci (i.e., 0.05 background foci∕cell in primary human l...

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This project focuses on the development of an acoustic driven, freely programmable multifunctional biochemical lab-on-a-chip. By combining different platform elements, like microdissection-, nanofluidicand detection-modules, the lab-on-a-chip can be adapted to question-and patient-specific cytogenetic and forensic applications. In contrast to many common lab-on-a-chip approaches presently available, the fluidic handling is done on a planar surface of the lab-on-a-chip. Minute amounts of biochemical fluids are confined in 'virtual' reaction chambers and 'virtual' test tubes in the form of free droplets. The droplets, fluidic tracks and reaction sites are defined at the chip surface by a monolayer chemical modification of the chip surface. Surface acoustic waves are employed to agitate and actuate these little 'virtual' test tubes along predetermined trajectories. Well-defined investigations, controlled in the submicrolitre regime, can be conducted quickly and gently on the lab-on-a-chip.