title: Microwave radiation can alter protein conformation without bulk heating.
abstract: Exposure to microwave radiation enhances the aggregation of bovine serum albumin in vitro in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Microwave radiation also promotes amyloid fibril formation by bovine insulin at 60 degrees C. These alterations in protein conformation are not accompanied by measurable temperature changes, consistent with estimates from field modelling of the specific absorbed radiation (15-20 mW kg(-1)). Limited denaturation of cellular proteins could explain our previous observation that modest heat-shock responses are induced by microwave exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans. We also show that heat-shock responses both to heat and microwaves are suppressed after RNA interference ablating heat-shock factor function.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK. david.depomerai@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: de Pomerai
authors.forename: Brette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: E Peter M
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Candido
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007328:Insulin / Q000528:radiation effects; D008872:Microwaves; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108431:hsp-16.2 protein, C elegans; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine