Abstract

Overview

How living systems respond to weak electromagnetic fields is a significant unanswered question in sensory biology. A key focus is on cryptochrome, a flavoprotein receptor linked with magnetic field responses across both plants and migratory birds.

Findings

• Theoretical predictions suggest chemical magnetoreception is influenced by exposure to radiofrequency in the MHz range, which has been seen to affect both bird orientation and mammalian cellular respiration.
• Studies indicate a weak 7 MHz RF magnetic field significantly diminishes the biological response to blue light in the cryptochrome receptor cry1 of Arabidopsis seedlings.
• Experiments using an in vivo phosphorylation assay demonstrated reductions in conformational changes vital for cryptochrome activity due to RF exposure.
• RF exposure also modifies cryptochrome-dependent plant growth responses and gene expression aligning with theoretical forecasts.

Conclusion

This investigation provides the inaugural evidence of a biological receptor's response to RF exposure. These findings extend our understanding of magnetosensing and orchestrate pathways for potential future applications in biotechnology and medicine.