Question

Effect of magnetic field on photosynthetic enzymes

Answer 1

Although the influence of magnetic fields on the rates and product yields of a host of chemical reactions are well documented and can be understood in the framework of the Radical Pair Mechanism (RPM), it has so far proved impossible to demonstrate convincingly a biological RPM effect. In this work we present proof that biological systems, i.e. photosynthetic bacteria, for which it is known that the RPM is operative, can generate toxic products in amounts that depend on the presence of an applied magnetic field. This work, in turn, illustrates that magnetic fields influence the extent of photoinhibition in such a biological system. We show, to our knowledge, the first observation of magnetic field dependent singlet oxygen production in biological system. These measurements could in principle explain beneficial and adverse effects for low and high magnetic fields, respectively.