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EMF Seems to Not Influence Transcription via CTCT Motif in Three Plant Promoters

2017 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 1344

CTCT motifs were common and non-randomly distributed in promoter regions of potato and Arabidopsis, tending to cluster near transcription initiation sites. In transgenic potato lines with promoters containing 3–12 CTCT motifs, exposure to a 50 Hz 60–70 A/m ma…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017
Study typeother
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

EMF Seems to Not Influence Transcription via CTCT Motif in Three Plant Promoters Sztafrowski D, Aksamit-Stachurska A, Kostyn K, Mackiewicz P, Łukaszewicz M. Electromagnetic Field Seems to Not Influence Transcription via CTCT Motif in Three Plant Promoters. Front Plant Sci. 2017 Mar 7;8:178. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00178. Abstract It was proposed that magnetic fields (MFs) can influence gene transcription via CTCT motif located in human HSP70 promoter. To check the universality of this mechanism, we estimated the potential role of this motif on plant gene transcription in response to MFs using both bioinformatics and experimental studies. We searched potential promoter sequences (1000 bp upstream) in the potato Solanum tuberosum and thale cress Arabidopsis thaliana genomes for the CTCT sequence. The motif was found, on average, 3.6 and 4.3 times per promoter (148,487 and 134,361 motifs in total) in these two species, respectively; however, the CTCT sequences were not randomly distributed in the promoter regions but were preferentially located near the transcription initiation site and were closely packed. The closer these CTCT sequences to the transcription initiation site, the smaller distance between them in both plants. One can assume that genes with many CTCT motifs in their promoter regions can be potentially regulated by MFs. To check this assumption, we tested the influence of MFs on gene expression in a transgenic potato with three promoters (16R, 20R, and 5UGT) containing from 3 to 12 CTCT sequences and starting expression of β-glucuronidase as a reported gene. The potatoes were exposed to a 50 Hz 60-70 A/m MF for 30 min and the reporter gene activity was measured for up to 24 h. Although other factors induced the reporter gene activity, the MF did not. It implies the CTCT motif does not mediate in response to MF in the tested plant promoters. Open Access Paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationTransgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum); bioinformatics analysis also included Arabidopsis thaliana promoters
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 30 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

CTCT motifs were common and non-randomly distributed in promoter regions of potato and Arabidopsis, tending to cluster near transcription initiation sites. In transgenic potato lines with promoters containing 3–12 CTCT motifs, exposure to a 50 Hz 60–70 A/m magnetic field for 30 min did not induce reporter gene activity (measured up to 24 h), although other factors did.

Outcomes measured

  • Presence/distribution of CTCT motifs in promoter regions (bioinformatics)
  • β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene activity/expression after magnetic field exposure

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Only three plant promoters tested experimentally
  • Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 60–70 A/m, 30 min
  • Outcome focused on a reporter gene system rather than endogenous gene expression
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min"
  },
  "population": "Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum); bioinformatics analysis also included Arabidopsis thaliana promoters",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Presence/distribution of CTCT motifs in promoter regions (bioinformatics)",
    "β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene activity/expression after magnetic field exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "CTCT motifs were common and non-randomly distributed in promoter regions of potato and Arabidopsis, tending to cluster near transcription initiation sites. In transgenic potato lines with promoters containing 3–12 CTCT motifs, exposure to a 50 Hz 60–70 A/m magnetic field for 30 min did not induce reporter gene activity (measured up to 24 h), although other factors did.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only three plant promoters tested experimentally",
    "Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 60–70 A/m, 30 min",
    "Outcome focused on a reporter gene system rather than endogenous gene expression"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "magnetic field",
    "50 Hz",
    "ELF",
    "CTCT motif",
    "promoter",
    "gene transcription",
    "Solanum tuberosum",
    "Arabidopsis thaliana",
    "β-glucuronidase",
    "reporter gene"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elF-magnetic-fields",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Experimental exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field and assessment of transcriptional reporter activity."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00178
PubMed: Not supplied

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