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Magnetic field effects as a result of the radical pair mechanism are unlikely in redox enzymes

J R Soc Interface · 2015 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 6721

Under the experimental conditions used, no magnetic field sensitivity was observed in stopped-flow reaction kinetics for any of the flavoenzyme systems studied or for a model reaction known to proceed via a radical pair. The authors conclude that thermally dr…

Study snapshot

PublicationJ R Soc Interface · 2015
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Environmental exposure to electromagnetic fields is potentially carcinogenic. The radical pair mechanism is considered the most feasible mechanism of interaction between weak magnetic fields encountered in our environment and biochemical systems. Radicals are abundant in biology, both as free radicals and reaction intermediates in enzyme mechanisms. The catalytic cycles of some flavin-dependent enzymes are either known or potentially involve radical pairs. Here, we have investigated the magnetic field sensitivity of a number of flavoenzymes with important cellular roles. We also investigated the magnetic field sensitivity of a model system involving stepwise reduction of a flavin analogue by a nicotinamide analogue—a reaction known to proceed via a radical pair. Under the experimental conditions used, magnetic field sensitivity was not observed in the reaction kinetics from stopped-flow measurements in any of the systems studied. Although widely implicated in radical pair chemistry, we conclude that thermally driven, flavoenzyme-catalysed reactions are unlikely to be influenced by exposure to external magnetic fields.

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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 typein_vitro
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Under the experimental conditions used, no magnetic field sensitivity was observed in stopped-flow reaction kinetics for any of the flavoenzyme systems studied or for a model reaction known to proceed via a radical pair. The authors conclude that thermally driven, flavoenzyme-catalysed reactions are unlikely to be influenced by exposure to external magnetic fields.

Outcomes measured

  • Magnetic field sensitivity of reaction kinetics (stopped-flow measurements) in flavoenzymes and a flavin/nicotinamide analogue model radical-pair system

Limitations

  • Magnetic field sensitivity was assessed only under the experimental conditions used (details not provided in abstract).
  • Findings are based on in vitro stopped-flow kinetics and may not capture other biological contexts or endpoints.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "environmental electromagnetic fields (general)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Magnetic field sensitivity of reaction kinetics (stopped-flow measurements) in flavoenzymes and a flavin/nicotinamide analogue model radical-pair system"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Under the experimental conditions used, no magnetic field sensitivity was observed in stopped-flow reaction kinetics for any of the flavoenzyme systems studied or for a model reaction known to proceed via a radical pair. The authors conclude that thermally driven, flavoenzyme-catalysed reactions are unlikely to be influenced by exposure to external magnetic fields.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Magnetic field sensitivity was assessed only under the experimental conditions used (details not provided in abstract).",
    "Findings are based on in vitro stopped-flow kinetics and may not capture other biological contexts or endpoints."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "magnetic fields",
    "radical pair mechanism",
    "flavoenzymes",
    "flavin-dependent enzymes",
    "reaction kinetics",
    "stopped-flow",
    "redox enzymes"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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: 10.1098/rsif.2014.1155
PubMed: 25505136

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