A mechanism for stimulation of biosynthesis by electromagnetic fields: charge transfer in DNA and base pair separation.
Electrons have been shown to move in DNA, and a specific DNA sequence is associated with the response to EM fields. In addition, there is evidence from biochemical reactions that EM fields can accelerate electron transfer. Interaction with electrons could displace electrons in H-bonds that hold DNA together leading to chain separation and initiating transcription. The effect of charging due to electron displacement on the energetics of DNA aggregation shows that electron transfer would favor separation of base pairs, and that DNA geometry is optimized for disaggregation under such conditions. Electrons in the H-bonds of both DNA and the surrounding water molecules fluctuate at frequencies that are much higher than the frequencies of the EM fields studied. The characteristics of the fluctuations suggest that the applied EM fields are effectively DC pulses and that interactions extend to microwave frequencies.
Blank
Martin
M
Department of Physiology Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. mb32@columbia.edu
Goodman
Reba
R
D000818:Animals; D020029:Base Pairing / Q000235:genetics*; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding / Q000528:radiation effects; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water; D004247:DNA