RF Safe

Arabidopsis cryptochrome is responsive to Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields

2020 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream
HarmLow evidencePaper 1476

Exposure to a weak 7 MHz radiofrequency magnetic field significantly reduced the biological responsivity to blue light of the cryptochrome receptor cry1 in Arabidopsis seedlings. RF exposure reduced conformational changes associated with cryptochrome activati…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Arabidopsis cryptochrome is responsive to Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields Maria Albaqami, Merfat Hammad, Marootpong Pooam, Maria Procopio, Mahyar Sameti, Thorsten Ritz, Margaret Ahmad, Carlos F Martino. Arabidopsis cryptochrome is responsive to Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 9;10(1):11260. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67165-5. Abstract How living systems respond to weak electromagnetic fields represents one of the major unsolved challenges in sensory biology. Recent evidence has implicated cryptochrome, an evolutionarily conserved flavoprotein receptor, in magnetic field responses of organisms ranging from plants to migratory birds. However, whether cryptochromes fulfill the criteria to function as biological magnetosensors remains to be established. Currently, theoretical predictions on the underlying mechanism of chemical magnetoreception have been supported by experimental observations that exposure to radiofrequency (RF) in the MHz range disrupt bird orientation and mammalian cellular respiration. Here we show that, in keeping with certain quantum physical hypotheses, a weak 7 MHz radiofrequency magnetic field significantly reduces the biological responsivity to blue light of the cryptochrome receptor cry1 in Arabidopsis seedlings. Using an in vivo phosphorylation assay that specifically detects activated cryptochrome, we demonstrate that RF exposure reduces conformational changes associated with biological activity. RF exposure furthermore alters cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses and gene expression to a degree consistent with theoretical predictions. To our knowledge this represents the first demonstration of a biological receptor responding to RF exposure, providing important new implications for magnetosensing as well as possible future applications in biotechnology and medicine. Open access paper: nature.com

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 typeanimal
Effect directionharm
PopulationArabidopsis seedlings
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 7 MHz
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to a weak 7 MHz radiofrequency magnetic field significantly reduced the biological responsivity to blue light of the cryptochrome receptor cry1 in Arabidopsis seedlings. RF exposure reduced conformational changes associated with cryptochrome activation and altered cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses and gene expression.

Outcomes measured

  • Cryptochrome receptor (cry1) responsivity to blue light
  • Cryptochrome activation/phosphorylation (in vivo phosphorylation assay)
  • Conformational changes associated with cryptochrome biological activity
  • Cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses
  • Gene expression responses

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
  • Exposure duration not reported in provided abstract/metadata
  • Exposure metrics beyond frequency (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in provided abstract/metadata
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 7,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Arabidopsis seedlings",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cryptochrome receptor (cry1) responsivity to blue light",
    "Cryptochrome activation/phosphorylation (in vivo phosphorylation assay)",
    "Conformational changes associated with cryptochrome biological activity",
    "Cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses",
    "Gene expression responses"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to a weak 7 MHz radiofrequency magnetic field significantly reduced the biological responsivity to blue light of the cryptochrome receptor cry1 in Arabidopsis seedlings. RF exposure reduced conformational changes associated with cryptochrome activation and altered cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses and gene expression.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure metrics beyond frequency (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in provided abstract/metadata"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Arabidopsis",
    "cryptochrome",
    "cry1",
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF",
    "7 MHz",
    "magnetic field",
    "blue light",
    "phosphorylation assay",
    "gene expression",
    "plant growth",
    "magnetoreception"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1038/s41598-020-67165-5
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library