Magnetic field modulation of receptor binding.
Although it is widely held that the magnetic fields encountered during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other procedures have no discernible effect on biological systems, we find that at early times of incubation, the amount of binding of the neurotoxin, alpha-bungarotoxin, to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is significantly reduced in a constant 2.0-T magnetic field. This finding suggests that steady magnetic fields can directly affect the functional activity of biologically important macromolecules, in this particular case a neurotransmitter receptor.
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
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Chiles
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Hawrot
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Gore
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Byck
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014101:Torpedo; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor