Achieving magnetic control of cellular events by introducing non-native radical pair formation

Migratory songbirds have a magnetic compass that helps them navigate enormous distances.The biophysical mechanism of this compass is not yet known but is thought to involve photochemical intermediates known as radical pairs (RPs) 1.Although laboratory studies have established the importance of RP effects in the context of chemical systems 2, it has proved challenging to harness these effects to achieve specific goals in biology.On the other hand, it is important to appreciate that even though studies of RP effects in biomolecular systems have yet to reveal reproducible magnetic field effects (MFEs), extrapolation of the negative findings to the cellular or whole-organism level is ill-advised due to the complexity of biological environments, the homeostatic buffering seen under physiological conditions, and other cooperative phenomenon we do not yet fully understand.In a recent publication in National Science Review, Zhang, Gao and Yang outline a bottom-up strategy to exploit magnetic field effects in living cells by translating knowledge obtained from in vitro studies of RP chemistry 3.Aberrant redox signaling underlies the pathophysiology of many diseases.Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have evolved as important regulators of those signaling pathways.ROS are oxygen-containing molecules with high reactivity.This class of molecules includes superoxide (O 2•-) and hydroxyl ( • OH) radicals, and non-radical species, such as singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) and