PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE FOR WEAK MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECTS ON MECHANOSENSITIVE ION CHANNEL SUBCONDUCTING STATES IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Investigations on the effects of applied magnetic fields on mechanosensitive (MS) ion channel activity in Escherichia coli reveal an enhancement of subconducting activity with field exposure. In nine of 10 experimental runs, more subconducting activity was observed during the application of a 1.35 millitesla (mT) DC magnetic field when compared to control periods before field application (p=.1). This is an indication that these weak fields may interfere with the function of MS channel subunits in this bacterium and may have implications for the interaction of applied magnetic fields with human MS ion channels.

• Mechanosensitive ion channel
• Weak magnetic field
• Escherichia coli