title: Magnetic field exposure induces DNA degradation.
abstract: In our earlier experiments, we discovered that magnetic field exposure could bring both stabilizing and destabilizing effects to the DNA of Escherichia coli, depending on our parameters of assessment, and both of these effects were associated with the induced synthesis of the heat shock proteins Hsp70/Hsp40 (DnaK/DnaJ). These contradicting results prompted us to explore in this study the effect of magnetic field exposure on the DNA stability in vivo when the heat shock response of the cell was suppressed. By using plasmid pUC18 in E. coli as the indicator, we found that without the protection of the heat shock response, magnetic field exposure indeed induced DNA degradation and this deleterious effect could be diminished by the presence of an antioxidant, Trolox C. In our in vitro test, we also showed that the magnetic field could potentiate the activity of oxidant radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D016877:Oxidants; D004247:DNA; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid