Abstract
We report that extended exposure to broad-spectrum terahertz radiation results in specific changes in cellular functions that are closely related to DNA-directed gene transcription. Our gene chip survey of gene expression shows that whereas 89% of the protein coding genes in mouse stem cells do not respond to the applied terahertz radiation, certain genes are activated, while other are repressed. RT-PCR experiments with selected gene probes corresponding to transcripts in the three groups of genes detail the gene specific effect. The response was not only gene specific but also irradiation conditions dependent. Our findings suggest that the applied terahertz irradiation accelerates cell differentiation toward adipose phenotype by activating the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG). Finally, our molecular dynamics computer simulations indicate that the local breathing dynamics of the PPARG promoter DNA coincides with the gene specific response to the THz radiation. We propose that THz radiation is a potential tool for cellular reprogramming.
Highlights
Terahertz (THz) radiation occurs ubiquitously in our environment, as part of the solar spectrum and through the natural blackbody radiation within the earth’s atmosphere
It remains unclear whether THz radiation is influencing specific genomic functions or whether the impact is more general resulting in cellular damage, it is apparent that the mechanisms by which the non-ionizing THz radiation influences biological functions must be fundamentally different from those at play when high-energy (UV, x-ray, gamma, etc.) radiation interacts with bio-matter
It was previously shown that intensive THz irradiation results in changes of neuronal cellular membranes that can be monitored by light microscopy [7]
Summary
Terahertz (THz) radiation occurs ubiquitously in our environment, as part of the solar spectrum and through the natural blackbody radiation within the earth’s atmosphere. The energy scale of THz radiation is within the range of hydrogen bonds, van-der-Waals interactions, and charge-transfer reactions This energy overlap is associated with the unique sensitivity of the emerging THz techniques [1,2] to the molecular motions that underlie intricate biological functions. These distinctive properties, together with the nascent development of powerful THz sources [1] and the resulting broad spectrum of applications [3], pose optimal conditions for understanding the nature of the interactions between THz radiation and biomolecules. These new conformations may perturb, for example, protein-DNA binding and thereby induce changes in cellular transcription and replication
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