Effects of 940MHz EMF on luciferase solution: Structure, function, and dielectric studies

We designed a rectangular waveguide exposure system to study the effects of mobile phone frequency (940MHz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on luciferase structure and activity. The luciferase activity of exposed samples was significantly higher than that of unexposed samples. Dynamic light scattering of the exposed samples showed smaller hydrodynamic radii compared to unexposed samples (20nm vs. 47nm +/- 5%). The exposed samples also showed less tendency to form aggregates, monitored by turbidity measurements at =360nm. A microwave dielectric measurement was performed to study the hydration properties of luciferase solutions with a precision network analyzer over frequency ranges from 0.2 to 20GHz before and after exposure. The change in the dielectric properties of the exposed luciferase solution was related to the disaggregation potency of the applied field. Together, our results suggested that direct interactions with luciferase molecules and its dipole moment were responsible for the reduced aggregation and enhanced luciferase activity upon exposure to the EMF. Bioelectromagnetics. 34:489-498. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.