An extremely low-frequency magnetic field can affect CREB protein conformation which may have a role in neuronal activities including memory

Abstract

The cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was exposed to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) of the range (−2.4–2.4) mT intensity and at a frequency of 50 Hz. The effects of exposure were investigated in the mid-infrared region using Fourier spectroscopic analysis. The purpose of this experiment is to simulate the exposure of neuronal proteins to a low magnetic field which may naturally occur in the brain due to electrical impulse signals. The experimental results showed inconsistent fluctuations in peak positions, band shape, and intensities for several bands in the amide II, amide IV and amide VI regions. This can be due to two factors. The first suggests that hydrogen bonds can alter the frequency of stretching vibrations depending on the increase or decrease of strain on the vibrations. The second is that all these bands are caused by bending vibrations in combinations with other vibrations, which makes these vibrations susceptible to magnetic field influence. Spectra analysis showed that once the CREB protein was exposed to a magnetic field, it induces a genuine reaction changing the secondary structure and producing changes that can have a lasting effect. The resulting conformational changes in brain proteins may have an effective role in signal transduction, learning and memory formation.