Moore F D, Sastry K S
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1982 Jun;79(11):3556-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.79.11.3556.
We have been interested in the possibility that the low energy electrons (Auger and Coster-Kronig) emitted after the electron capture decay of 40K may have highly localized radiochemical effects on the genetic material--effects dependent upon the intracellular locus of potassium. We report here that these effects are such that the likelihood of mutagenesis by their impact on DNA is substantial. This suggests that intracellular 40K has played a significant role as a mutagenic agent in evolution.
40K电子俘获衰变后发射的低能电子(俄歇电子和科斯特-克朗尼格电子)可能对遗传物质产生高度局部化的放射化学效应——这些效应取决于钾在细胞内的位置。我们在此报告,这些效应使得它们对DNA产生影响而导致诱变的可能性很大。这表明细胞内的40K在进化过程中作为诱变剂发挥了重要作用。