Weak Electromagnetic Field Effects on Gene Expression in E. coli.
Abstract
We have previously shown that exposing Eschenchia coli to a magnetic fields (MFs) increased the levels of some proteins and decreased others. Using a cell-free system we reported that expression (transcription and/or translation) of the a and BB' subunits of DNA-directed RNA polymerase were elevated following exposure to 45 Hz, 1.1, 0.21 and 0.07 mT magnetic fields. In the last phase of this program, we sought to determine whether transcription and/or translation were altered by MFs. A cell-free E. coli system was used to determine whether or not MFs directly affect the translational or translational processes. Our data suggest that MFs have no significant direct effect on either transcription or translation. In contrast, when a eukaryotic HeLa extract containing a cmyc plasmid was exposed to a magnetic field, enhanced transcription was observed. At this time we conclude that our inability to distinguish differences in transcription and translation in E. coli may be related to the coupled nature of these processes in the bacterial system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 12, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA306447
Entities
People
- B. Greenebaum
- E. M. Goodman