Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
A Pilot Study on the Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Aβ and Tau Levels in Rhesus Monkey Cerebrospinal Fluid
Published on: September 3, 2021
Magnetic Fields Reduce Apoptosis by Suppressing Phase Separation of Tau-441
Wen-Juan Lin1, Wen-Pu Shi1, Wan-Yi Ge1
1Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyixi Road, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China.
Abstract:
The biological effects of magnetic fields (MFs) have been a controversial issue. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been increasing evidence that MFs do affect biological systems. However, the physical mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that MFs (16 T) reduce apoptosis in cell lines by inhibiting liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Tau-441, suggesting that the MF effect on LLPS may be one of the mechanisms for understanding the "mysterious" magnetobiological effects. The LLPS of Tau-441 occurred in the cytoplasm after induction with arsenite. The phase-separated droplets of Tau-441 recruited hexokinase (HK), resulting in a decrease in the amount of free HK in the cytoplasm. In cells, HK and Bax compete to bind to the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC I) on the mitochondrial membrane. A decrease in the number of free HK molecules increased the chance of Bax binding to VDAC I, leading to increased Bax-mediated apoptosis. In the presence of a static MF, LLPS was marked inhibited and HK recruitment was reduced, resulting in an increased probability of HK binding to VDAC I and a decreased probability of Bax binding to VDAC I, thus reducing Bax-mediated apoptosis. Our findings revealed a new physical mechanism for understanding magnetobiological effects from the perspective of LLPS. In addition, these results show the potential applications of physical environments, such as MFs in this study, in the treatment of LLPS-related diseases.
Insights
Strong magnetic fields (MFs) inhibit liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Tau-441, reducing cell apoptosis. This finding offers a physical mechanism for understanding magnetobiological effects and potential disease treatments.
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.
