The role of mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels in magnetoreception.

人们早就知道地球磁场会影响各种生物的行为和方向。然而，由于缺乏一种合理的细胞和/或分子机制，对生物检测磁场提供有意义的解释，对磁感的实验研究受到了损害。最近，机械敏感（MS）离子通道被认为在磁接受中起作用。我们的初步研究表明，细菌质谱通道的活性可能会受到磁场的影响，我们建议研究磁场对革兰氏阴性细菌大肠杆菌和磁致磁螺旋菌质谱离子通道的影响。该项目还有望有助于更好地了解电磁辐射对人类健康的不利影响，并有助于了解磁纳米粒子介导的质谱离子通道远程激活背后的机制。

The magnetic field of the Earth has for long been known to influence the behaviour and orientation of a variety of organisms. Experimental study of the magnetic sense has however, been impaired by the lack of a plausible cellular and/or molecular mechanism providing meaningful explanation for detection of magnetic fields by living organisms. Recently, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels have been implied to play a role in magnetoreception. Based on our preliminary investigations, which suggest that the activity of bacterial MS channels may be affected by magnetic fields, we propose to study effects of magnetic fields on MS ion channels in Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum. The project promises also to contribute towards better understanding of adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation on human health and towards understanding the mechanisms behind remote magnetic-nanoparticle mediated activation of MS ion channels.