An Analysis of Erythrocyte Membrane Proteins of Individuals Working in and Living near High Voltage Powerlines Using the Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Disk Electrophoresis Method

Authors: Can PAKSU, Nurten ERDAL, M. Emin ERDAL, Sibel OGUZKAN

Abstract: To analyse the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the erythrocyte membrane proteins of people working in and living near high voltage powerlines, blood with heparin samples was obtained from 30 men working in 380 kV substations, 30 women living in the same area and 30 healthy men and 30 healthy women. Erythrocyte membrane proteins obtained from these samples were identified using the "Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Disk Electrophoresis (SDS- PAGE)" method. Membrane proteins obtained from the people who had been continuously exposed to EMF and from the people who had not been exposed, were compared. While significant increases were observed in the percentage of Spectrin I-II, Protein Band 3, Protein Band 4.2, Protein Band 7, and Protein Band 6, Significant decreases were observed in the percentage of Ankyrin, Protein Band 4.1 and Hemoglobin bands of erythrocyte membrane proteins in the men. No significant difference was found in the percentage of Protein Band 4.9 or Actin. In the women participants significant increases in the percentage of Protein Band 4.2, Actin and Protein Band were observed. Significant decreases in the percentage of Hemoglobin band in the same group of women were found also. No significant difference was found in the percentage of Spectrin I-II, Ankyrin, Protein Band 3, Protein Band 4.1, Protein Band 4.9, or Protein Band 7.

Keywords: High voltage powerline, Electromagnetic field, Electrophoresis, Erythrocyte membrane protein.

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