Effect of Humid Air Exposed to IR Radiation on Enzyme Activity

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 6;23(2):601. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020601.

Abstract

Water vapor absorbs well in the infra-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Absorption of radiant energy by water or water droplets leads to formation of exclusion zone water that possesses peculiar physico-chemical properties. In the course of this study, normally functioning and damaged alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase and catalase were treated with humid air irradiated with infrared light with a wavelength in the range of 1270 nm and referred to as coherent humidity (CoHu). One-minute long treatment with CoHu helped to partially protect enzymes from heat inactivation, mixed function oxidation, and loss of activity due to partial unfolding. Authors suggest that a possible mechanism underlying the observed effects involves altering the physicochemical properties of aqueous media while treatment of the objects with CoHu where CoHu acts as an intermediary.

Keywords: IR radiation; alkaline phosphatase; antioxidant; catalase; coherent domain; horseradish peroxidase; vapor.

MeSH terms

  • Air*
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / radiation effects*
  • Animals
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Catalase / radiation effects*
  • Cattle
  • Enzyme Activation / radiation effects
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / radiation effects*
  • Humidity*
  • Infrared Rays*
  • Oxidation-Reduction / radiation effects
  • Protein Denaturation / radiation effects
  • Substrate Specificity / radiation effects
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Horseradish Peroxidase
  • Catalase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase