Influència de camps elèctrics sobre complexes amb enllaços d’hidrogen: una font de mutacions en el DNA

Abstract

Nowadays, a lot of people is wondering if electromagnetic fields can have a negative effect on the health of living beings. This approach is given by Löwdin's theory, which postulates that one of the main reasons for the appearance of mutations is the change in the tautomeric forms of the nitrogenous bases that encode the DNA. In this study, we investigate the effects of electric fields on hydrogen bonds. To carry it out, it has been used the UdG’s cluster that has Gaussian09 installed. This program performs calculations and approximations of what happens to hydrogen bonds when electric fields are applied. Chemcraft has also been used, which allows you to modify the coordinates and measure distances, among others. First of all, it has been observed that when applying a medium intensity electric field, 30 (x10-4) ua, to the formamide-formamide dimer, the only effect that they cause on these bonds is the shortening or elongation of the Hydrogen bond. This distance varies depending on the angle of application of the electric field. On the other hand, the highest intensity electric fields, in this case 80 (x10-4) ua, cause a double transfer of protons, appearing tautomeric forms of the mentioned complex. Once observed the effects caused by these electric fields on the FAFA dimer, it has been studied the effect in the pairs of nitrogen bases; Adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine. In these two cases, tautomeric forms have not been found spontaneously, but have been observed that they help to shift the tautomeric balance slightly. So in the adenine-thymine, as in the guaninecytosine, the tautomeric forms are found more easily, when electric fields are oriented parallel to the hydrogen bonds. The only difference is that in the case of adenine-thymine, the best angle is that of 0º, and that of guanine-cytosine is 180º. After having made these observations, it has been concluded that the electric fields of medium and high intensity may be a cause for the appearance of mutations. However, the electromagnetic fields that surround us daily, are not powerful enough to be dangerous for the living beings health