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High frequency (900 MHz) low amplitude (5 V m−1) electromagnetic field: a genuine environmental stimulus that affects transcription, translation, calcium and energy charge in tomato

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Abstract

Using an especially-designed facility, the Mode Stirred Reverberation Chamber, we exposed tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. VFN8) to low level (900 MHz, 5 V m−1) electromagnetic fields for a short period (10 min) and measured changes in abundance of three specific mRNA soon after exposure. Within minutes of electromagnetic stimulation, stress-related mRNA (calmodulin, calcium-dependent protein kinase and proteinase inhibitor) accumulated in a rapid, large and 3-phase manner typical of an environmental stress response. Accumulation of these transcripts into the polysomal RNA also took place (indicating that the encoded proteins were translated) but was delayed (indicating that newly-synthesized mRNA was not immediately recruited into polysomes). Transcript accumulation was maximal at normal Ca2+ levels and was depressed at higher Ca2+, especially for those encoding calcium-binding proteins. Removal of Ca2+ (by addition of chelating agents or Ca2+ channel blocker) led to total suppression of mRNA accumulation. Finally, 30 min after the electromagnetic treatment, ATP concentration and adenylate energy charge were transiently decreased, while transcript accumulation was totally prevented by application of the uncoupling reagent, CCCP. These responses occur very soon after exposure, strongly suggesting that they are the direct consequence of application of radio-frequency fields and their similarities to wound responses strongly suggests that this radiation is perceived by plants as an injurious stimulus.

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Abbreviations

AEC:

Adenylate energy charge

BAPTA:

Bis aminophenoxy ethane tetraacetic acid

EGTA:

Ethyleneglycol tetraacetic acid

EMF:

Electromagnetic field

MSRC:

Mode stirred reverberation chamber

RF:

Radio frequency

RTqPCR:

Real time quantitative PCR

CCCP:

Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the French Ministry of Education and Research for the grant awarded to G. Ledoigt from ACI RTM 0005 “Effets biologiques et sanitaires de la téléphonie mobile” and Pr Gendraud (Université Blaise Pascal) for advices on ATP metabolism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA 3296 ERTAC, Université Blaise Pascal, Campus universitaire des Cézeaux, 63177, Aubiere Cedex, France

    David Roux, Alain Vian & Gérard Ledoigt

  2. UMR CNRS 6602 LASMEA, Université Blaise Pascal, Campus universitaire des Cézeaux, 63177, Aubiere Cedex, France

    Sébastien Girard, Pierre Bonnet & Françoise Paladian

  3. Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7612, USA

    Eric Davies

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  1. David Roux
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  2. Alain Vian
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  3. Sébastien Girard
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  4. Pierre Bonnet
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  5. Françoise Paladian
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  6. Eric Davies
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  7. Gérard Ledoigt
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Correspondence to Alain Vian.

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Roux, D., Vian, A., Girard, S. et al. High frequency (900 MHz) low amplitude (5 V m−1) electromagnetic field: a genuine environmental stimulus that affects transcription, translation, calcium and energy charge in tomato. Planta 227, 883–891 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-007-0664-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-007-0664-2

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