Investigation of the 3D-structure and function of a cesium transport protein using small-angle scattering of quantum beams (neutrons/X-ray) in HANARO

Nuclear power plant accidents caused by Chernobyl in 1986 and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 caused a large amount of radioactive material to be leaked into the environment, and as a result, humanity has faced the threat of the most serious radiation exposure in history. Among radioactive materials, cesium (Cs-137) is mentioned as a material that poses a great threat to humans and the natural environment.When radionuclides leak into the environment, they are finally absorbed into the human body through the food pyramid, causing serious damage such as cancer and leukemia. Therefore, an effective cesium removal strategy is required. Nevertheless, since modern biology still has no idea how radioactive cesium is absorbed and released into the human body, no rescue strategy has been established to protect us from the threat of radioactive cesium. It is of paramount importance to identify the scientific principles that can escape the threat. In order to solve the threat of radioactive cesium, first of all, it is essential to discover "transport proteins" related to intracellular absorption and excretion of radioactive cesium, and to identify the structure and function of these transport proteins. Quantum beams (neutrons and X-rays) obtained at the HANARO facility in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute show the property of being scattered when they encounter a material due to its particle properties. Using these scattering properties (small-angle scattering), the structure of proteins can be predicted. It can be used as a great tool. Therefore, if the three-dimensional structure of the transport protein involved in the absorption/export of radioactive cesium is identified using the quantum beam small-angle scattering in the HANARO facility and the function of the transport protein is revealed, the absorption of radioactive cesium in the human body is the source. As a result, it is possible to develop a technology that can fundamentally block radiation exposure, as it is possible to make medicines that can be prevented or released to the outside of the body in a short time