Magnetic field and nuclear spin influence on the DNA synthesis rate

The rate of a chemical reaction can be sensitive to the isotope composition of the reactants, which provides also for the sensitivity of such spin-sensitive reactions to the external magnetic field. Here we demonstrate the effect of the external magnetic field on the enzymatic DNA synthesis together with the effect of the spin-bearing magnesium ions (25Mg). The rate of DNA synthesis monotonously decreased with the external magnetic field induction increasing in presence of zero-spin magnesium ions (Mg-24). On the contrary, in the presence of the spin-bearing magnesium ions, the dependence of the reaction rate on the magnetic field induction was non-monotonous and possess a distinct minimum at 80-100 mT. To describe the observed effect, we suggested a chemical scheme and biophysical mechanism considering a competition between Zeeman and Fermi interactions in the external magnetic field.

Automated summary

The rate of a chemical reaction can be influenced by the isotope composition of the reactants, resulting in sensitivity to the external magnetic field. This study demonstrates the impact of the external magnetic field on enzymatic DNA synthesis, as well as the effect of spin-bearing magnesium ions. The rate of DNA synthesis decreases steadily with increasing magnetic field induction in the presence of zero-spin magnesium ions. However, in the presence of spin-bearing magnesium ions, the dependence of the reaction rate on magnetic field induction is non-monotonic with a distinct minimum at 80-100 mT. A proposed chemical scheme and biophysical mechanism explain this observed effect by considering the competition between Zeeman and Fermi interactions in the external magnetic field.