1. Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist?

This article is analyzing the effects of low-energy electron attachment to one of the most important metabolic components in the cell and the element of DNA - adenine, studied in a form of a monolayer film. It is addressing the possibility of fragmentation and/or significant geometrical changes of adenine as a result of electronic and vibrational excitation after the attached electron leaves the molecule. Our results are particularly relevant for understanding the effects of electrons on DNA, manifested either through the bond cleavage or through changes in the DNA-protein binding sites.

2. What has motivated you to conduct this work?

Since the secondary electrons low-energy electrons are the most abundant species produced in the live tissue by the high-energy ionizing radiation, our primary motivation was to identify the mechanism of electron-adenine interaction and quantify the probability for possible changes that can be relevant for radiotherapy or radioprotection of DNA.

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future?

We intend to extend our measurements to more complex molecules, such as nucleosides, nucleic base - deoxyribose complexes. In addition to this, we will look at the changes caused by the presence of water molecules in the molecular film.

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?

The main challenge in research of low-energy electron interactions with DNA is to disentangle the contributions of its specific elements and to understand what effects are arising from its organized structure. The answer to this question could lead researchers to finding the "right" method for using the ionizing radiation to destroy cancerous cells or for protection of the healthy cells, but can also provide information about the electron transport in DNA, which is an important question in the field of molecular electronics.