Magnetic Fields Reduce Apoptosis by Suppressing Phase Separation of Tau-441

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Magnetobiology

Background:

• Biological effects of magnetic fields (MFs) are increasingly evident but lack clear physical mechanisms.
• Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a cellular process implicated in various biological functions and diseases.
• Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a critical cellular process regulated by various molecular interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physical mechanism by which MFs affect biological systems.
• To determine if MFs can modulate liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Tau-441.
• To explore the potential of MFs in treating diseases related to LLPS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high magnetic fields (16 T) to observe effects on Tau-441 LLPS in cell lines.
• Induction of Tau-441 LLPS in the cytoplasm using arsenite.
• Investigated the interaction of hexokinase (HK) and Bax with voltage-dependent anion channel I (VDAC I) under MF exposure.

Main Results:

• Static magnetic fields (MFs) significantly inhibited Tau-441 LLPS.
• Inhibition of LLPS reduced the recruitment of hexokinase (HK) to phase-separated droplets.
• MFs decreased Bax-mediated apoptosis by altering the competition between HK and Bax for VDAC I binding.

Conclusions:

• MFs can inhibit LLPS, providing a novel physical mechanism for observed magnetobiological effects.
• The modulation of LLPS by MFs offers a potential therapeutic strategy for LLPS-related diseases.
• This study bridges the fields of biophysics and cell biology to explain previously mysterious MF effects.