MEANS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING DOUBLE-STRAND BREAKS

摘要

The present invention makes use of proximity ligation in a method for determining the level of DNA damage, in particular,in cells of a subject subjected to ionizing radiation, which is based on the quantification of DNA repair proteins congregating at sites of DNA repair. Accordingly, the present invention provides a new approach to monitor radiation exposure by the detection of DNA double strand breaks. Specifically, the methods of the present invention are capable to visualize a linear dose response relationship in the biologically relevant range of 0.2 to 2 Gy by translating DNA damages into detectable signals by way of the application of a proximity ligation assay.