title: Mammalian stem cells reprogramming in response to terahertz radiation.
abstract: We report that extended exposure to broad-spectrum terahertz radiation results in specific changes in cellular functions that are closely related to DNA-directed gene transcription. Our gene chip survey of gene expression shows that whereas 89% of the protein coding genes in mouse stem cells do not respond to the applied terahertz radiation, certain genes are activated, while other are repressed. RT-PCR experiments with selected gene probes corresponding to transcripts in the three groups of genes detail the gene specific effect. The response was not only gene specific but also irradiation conditions dependent. Our findings suggest that the applied terahertz irradiation accelerates cell differentiation toward adipose phenotype by activating the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG). Finally, our molecular dynamics computer simulations indicate that the local breathing dynamics of the PPARG promoter DNA coincides with the gene specific response to the THz radiation. We propose that THz radiation is a potential tool for cellular reprogramming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuyo
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: M Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.forename: Ludmil B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Alexandrov
authors.forename: Kim Ø
authors.initials: KØ
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Evan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Hou-Tong
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Boian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Alexandrov
authors.forename: Anny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usheva
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055053:Terahertz Radiation
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D004247:DNA