Chromosome instability of HPRT-mutant subclones induced by ionising radiation of various let Original Research Article

The induction of HPRT-mutations and survival of Chinese hamster cells (line B11ii-FAF28, clone 431) were studied after irradiation by 4He and 12C-ions of various LET (20 – 360 keV/μm), produced by the U-200 heavy ion accelerator. The RBE increases with LET up to the maximum at 100–200 keV/μm and then decreases. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on the HPRT-mutant subclones selected from unirradiated Chinese hamster V-79 cells and from HPRT- mutant subclones that arose after exposure to γ-rays, 1GeV protons and 14N-ions (LET - 77 keV/μm), produced by the synchrophasotron and the U-400M heavy ion accelerator. Slow growing mutant subclones were observed. The cytogenetic properties of individual clones were highly heterogeneous and chromosome instability was observed in both spontaneous and radiation-induced mutants. Chromosome instability was highest among spontaneous mutants and decreased with increasing LET.