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Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Use of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance in Biological Samples at Ambient Temperature and 77 K
Published on: January 11, 2019
Uncovering a possible role of reactive oxygen species in magnetogenetics
Matthew I Brier1, Jordan W Mundell1, Xiaofei Yu2,3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
Abstract:
Recent reports have shown that intracellular, (super)paramagnetic ferritin nanoparticles can gate TRPV1, a non-selective cation channel, in a magnetic field. Here, we report the effects of differing field strength and frequency as well as chemical inhibitors on channel gating using a Ca2+-sensitive promoter to express a secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter. Exposure of TRPV1-ferritin-expressing HEK-293T cells at 30 °C to an alternating magnetic field of 501 kHz and 27.1 mT significantly increased SEAP secretion by ~ 82% relative to control cells, with lesser effects at other field strengths and frequencies. Between 30-32 °C, SEAP production was strongly potentiated 3.3-fold by the addition of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin. This potentiation was eliminated by the competitive antagonist AMG-21629, the NADPH oxidase assembly inhibitor apocynin, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that ROS contributes to magnetogenetic TRPV1 activation. These results provide a rational basis to address the heretofore unknown mechanism of magnetogenetics.
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