March 2018 Issue
Researcher Video Profiles

Makiko Tanaka, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering.

Charge transfer and damage in DNA by oxidizing DNA with light

Makiko Aiba

It is known that the DNA in our body carries genetic information and when it is oxidized, charge is generated, and this charge moves through DNA and causes damage. To-date, this process has been examined mainly in ordinary aqueous solutions. However, the inside of cells where DNA exists is a highly dense congested state due to many kinds of molecules, and in order to examine the actual characteristics of DNA, it is necessary to study under conditions closer to a living environment.

Therefore, Makiko Tanaka studying charge transfer and damage in DNA using a method where DNA is oxidized with light, in an intracellular model environment mixed with high concentrations of artificial molecules. Experimental results show that decreasing the dielectric constant and increasing the viscosity of the surrounding environment greatly affect the path and efficiency of damage caused by charge transfer.

This research is expected to uncover unknown characteristics of DNA in an in-vivo environment to advance knowledge in medicine.

Further information

Makiko Tanaka, Assistant Professor
Department of Engineering, School of Informatics and Engineering, Science Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering,

Website:http://www.mtanaka.lab.uec.ac.jp
Research Highlight:Electron transfer and oxidative damage in DNA under biomimetic crowding environment