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Electromagnetic field (EMF) effects on channel activity of nanopore OmpF protein

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Abstract

In this study, the effects of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF; 925 MHz) on the OmpF porin channel have been characterized at the single-channel level. Channel activity was recorded in real time by the voltage clamp method. Our results showed an increase in the frequency of channel gating and voltage sensitivity. The effects of EMF lasted for several milliseconds after the field source was terminated. However, the conductance levels of channels did not change significantly. Thermal effects of EMF on single-channel properties are a possible cause, based on theoretical evaluation of results that were comparable to those seen in conventional experiments at different temperatures. We conclude that EMF affects both the dynamics and conformation of the channel, either directly by affecting critical amino acid side-chain arrangement, or indirectly, via the electrolyte or the lipid membrane.

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the assistance of Eng Saeed Farsi for designing the antenna and simulating the EMF in the Faraday cage and chamber. We would also like to thank Dr. Edward Lea, University of East Anglia, and Dr. Edwin Thrower, Yale University, for their critical revision of the manuscript. The financial support of the University of Tehran is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, PO Box 13145-1384, Tehran, Iran

    M. Mohammadzadeh & H. Mobasheri

  2. Communication Engineering Department, Faculty of Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    F. Arazm

Authors
  1. M. Mohammadzadeh
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  2. H. Mobasheri
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  3. F. Arazm
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Correspondence to H. Mobasheri.

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Mohammadzadeh, M., Mobasheri, H. & Arazm, F. Electromagnetic field (EMF) effects on channel activity of nanopore OmpF protein. Eur Biophys J 38, 1069–1078 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-009-0511-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-009-0511-4

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