Using a 120-cm cyclotron to study the synchronous effects of ionizing radiation and hypomagnetic conditions on the simplest biological objects

Abstract

The effect of α particles on one of the simplest unicellular organisms, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cyanobacteria, is studied using a 120 cm cyclotron. Suspensions of cells are irradiated in a cuvette with walls made of thin mylar films. The energy of α particles in the solution is 24 MeV. The linear energy transfer (LET) of α particles is close to that of relativistic nuclei of the neon-magnesium group in galactic cosmic rays, making it possible to simulate their effect on biological objects. A number of apparent changes in the Synechocystis spectral characteristics are found for samples irradiated in and outside a hypomagnetic field.

Rotations of macromolecules affect nonspecific biological responses to magnetic fields

“…It is interesting to note, that reproducible and large nonspecific magnetic effects are observed in systems with pronounced processes involving gene expression: neurite outgrowth 24 , cephalic regeneration in planarians 25 , morphological changes during embryogenesis 26 , response to heat shock 27 , cell growth and gene expression 7 in plants, the proliferation of human neuroblastoma cells 28 and of mouse nerve stem cells 29 , and gravitropism in plants 30 . The combined action of MF and X-rays 31 and of MF and heavy ions 32 can be seen as the interference between DNA repair and nonspecific magnetic effects. There is also strong dependence of magnetic effects on the genetic modification of organisms 14 , 33 – 36 .…”

Hypo-Magnetic Problems of the Deep Space Missions

“…PCC 6803 enhanced greatly by prior restraint in GMC [4]. Alpha particles provided the value of the linear energy transfer of about 20 keV/mcm, i.e.…”

Biological Effects of Hypomagnetic Field: Ground‐Based Data for Space Exploration

“…There are several charged particles in the cosmic ray, most of which are protons and alpha particles in the solar system. Reportedly, HMF enhances the impairment of energy migration processes caused by alpha particle radiation during photosynthesis in cyanobacteria [Lebedev et al, 2014], but more research is still needed.…”