Full Length Research Paper

Effect of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on acid phosphatase activity

K. S. Prashanth¹*, T. R. S. Chouhan² and Snehalatha Nadiger³

¹Research Scholar, Dr M.G.R University, Chennai Tamil Nadu, India.

²Ethica Matrix CRO Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, India.

³Department of Biotechnology, New Horizon College of Engineering, Outer Ring Road, Panathur post Bangalore-560087, Karnataka(s) India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: rashanth.kallambadi@gmail.com.

Accepted 29 January,2009

   Abstract

The effect of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field (EMF) (50 Hz 0.5 mT) on the activity of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was studied. In addition the factors affecting the enzyme activity such as the temperature, pH and substrate concentration were also investigated. The results show that ELF EMF have significant influence on enzyme activity. Upon EMF exposure K_m increased from 0014 ± 0.005 to 0.040 ± 0.008 mM whereas V_max increased from 0.991 ± 0.254 to 1.638 ± 0.345 µmol/min. Further studies can probably help in finding suitable applications for ELF based modulation of enzyme activity.

Key words:  ELF EMF, acid phosphatase, enzyme activity.