The DNA Repair Key Enzyme Affected by ⁴³Ca²⁺: A New Platform for Anti-Leukemia Therapies

New Possibilities for Magnetic Control of Chemical and Biochemical Reactions

“…However, under some conditions the activity of β-polymerase has been found to depend on the nuclear magnetic moments of the ions 25 Mg 2+ , 67 Zn 2+ , and 43 Ca 2+ , which, unlike the effect with ATP synthesis, strongly suppress polymerase activity (Figures and ). A proposed explanation of the reversal of the MIE involves the intermediacy of an addition product of a ribose oxy radical on the DNA strand to the incoming nucleotide triphosphate. − The radical addition product is capable of undergoing side reactions that prevent elongation of the DNA, decreasing the yield of DNA from the nonradical route.…”

“…Analogous possibilities come to mind for applications of the ability of the same isotopes to inhibit DNA synthesis, perhaps as a novel type of tumor growth inhibitor. To this end, the magnetic isotopes 25 Mg 2+ , 67 Zn 2+ , and 43 Ca 2+ were tested as a means to kill cancer cells, 14,22,59 and exceptionally high sensitivity of cell-killing to magnetic isotopes was observed. Careful comparison of the effects of magnetic and nonmagnetic isotopes and applied fields will be required to establish the extent to which a possible MIE competes with differences in susceptibility of normal and cancer cells to the mode of metal ion delivery; but the initial results are promising.…”

Genes and Cancer under Magnetic Control

“…The DNA and genes are also subjected to the damage induced by nuclear magnetic ions. The direct evidence follows from the effect exhibited by HL-60 cancer cells: the loading of these cells by 43 Ca 2+ ions produces short DNA fragments that count 25–35 nucleotides in length contrasting with the normal 180–210 nucleotides produced by 40 Ca 2+ polymerase [ 10 ]. The ions 25 Mg 2+ and 67 Zn 2+ demonstrate the similar effects: they also produce abnormally short (25–35 nucleotides) fragments [ 11 ], which are not formed in cells loaded with ions 24 Mg 2+ and 64 Zn 2+ .…”

“…These ions were tested as a means to kill cancer cells HL-60; the results are presented in Fig. 6 ; they unambiguously demonstrate different survival of both sorts of cells: cancer cells are much more vulnerable with respect to nuclear magnetic ions than the healthy cells [ 10 , 56 , 57 ]. It means that magnetic control of the DNA synthesis by nuclear magnetic ions of magnesium, calcium, and zinc is a powerful and universal anti-cancer means; they strongly, by 20–40 times, increase mortality of cancer cells.…”