Soft X-ray radiation effects on yeast cells with energies on and off the OK absorption edge by a soft X-ray microprobe

The cell killing abilities of soft X-rays on and off the oxygenK-shell edges on yeast cells have been investigated using amicrometer soft X-ray microprobe from synchrotron radiation.The dose depositions at different X-ray energies in the cellwere discussed. At the same time, the cells were irradiatedby ⁶⁰Co gamma-rays and the abilities in inducing yeast cellkilling were compared with those produced by soft X-rays. Theresults showed that soft X-rays on and off the O_K edge had higherability of radiation damage than ⁶⁰Co gamma-rays. The totalkilling abilities of the three soft X-rays on yeast cells werealmost similar and the differences of the X-rays in inducingyeast cell killing on and off the O_K edge were not obvious.