Brazilian Centenarians Reveal Genetic Diversity Linked to Longevity; Magnetically Controlled Proteins Offer Remote Cellular Control

This episode highlights two cutting-edge biology stories. First, a Brazilian long-lived DNA study examines why some people live past 100, showing that centenarians often hail from highly mixed ancestries, suggesting genetic diversity may contribute to longevity even with limited medical care. Researchers compare centenarians' genomes to younger controls and study their immunological biomarkers to establish reference values for extreme aging. The second story introduces magnetically controlled proteins based on GFP that dim or switch under magnetic fields, enabling remote control of protein function and even antibody binding. These advances point to new approaches in understanding human longevity and developing novel biomedical tools that work at a distance.

Introduction and episode overview

The Nature Briefing podcast explores two science stories that push the boundaries of biology and biotechnology. The first focuses on aging and genetics in a Brazilian context, while the second delves into protein engineering and magnetism. Together they illustrate how understanding the genome and engineering magnetic responsiveness could transform biomedical research and potential therapies.

Brazilian centenarians and longevity genetics

The episode discusses preliminary findings from a study in Brazil that aims to understand why some people live to very old ages, including centenarians and supercentenarians. Scientists have sequenced the genomes of more than 160 centenarians, with about 20 of them over 110 years old. A key observation is the genetic diversity within this cohort: many participants have ancestries that mix European, African, and Native American heritage. This diversity stands in contrast to studies that focus on more genetically homogeneous populations and may help explain resilience and longevity beyond exposure to high-end medical care. The researchers compare these genomes to those of individuals who died of natural causes at younger ages, acknowledging that matching generations is challenging but valuable for identifying longevity-associated variants and immunological profiles.

Early data suggest that long life in this Brazilian cohort is not solely the result of diet, exercise, or access to medical interventions. Instead, the team is exploring whether broad genetic diversity itself contributes to resilience, potentially through a wider repertoire of immune responses or other protective pathways. The researchers are also collecting biomarkers to establish reference values for biomarkers in very old adults, a task complicated by limited public health data for centenarians. Anecdotes about participants—such as a woman who began swimming at 70 and remains vibrant, or a man who, at 107, is among the oldest formal workers—underscore that longevity can persist in diverse environments and is not strictly tied to modern healthcare alone. A lead scientist remarks that the Brazilian population’s mixed heritage may contribute to longevity, highlighting the importance of broader genomic diversity in aging research.

"we know that Brazil has a highly mixed population, and that may contribute to their longevity" - scientist

Magnetically controlled proteins: from GFP to Maglev

The second story centers on proteins that respond to magnetic fields. Building on prior work with green fluorescent protein (GFP), researchers have developed new GFP-based variants that are far more magnetically sensitive. One protein, named Maglov, dims by about 50% when exposed to a magnetic field, a substantial enhancement over the modest ~1% effect observed previously. This creates the possibility of turning on and off fluorescence remotely, enabling strategies to identify or track cells with Maglov-tagged bacteria and to control labeling or activity at a distance using magnets.

The discussion explains how this magnetic control could extend beyond fluorescence to affect binding dynamics. For example, researchers have explored a magnetically regulated antibody called magbo, which could be steered to bind more or less strongly under magnetic influence, thereby enabling new tools for targeted therapy or diagnostics. The magnetism theme is further tied to common clinical technologies such as MRI, which uses strong magnetic fields, suggesting future pathways to guide proteins to specific tissues or cells without invasive procedures.

Directed evolution features prominently as a method to optimize these magnetically responsive proteins for stronger effects or other desired functions. The current work demonstrates a proof of principle in bacteria (Escherichia coli), with future work anticipated in animal models like C. elegans and, eventually, more complex organisms. The overarching implication is clear: remotely controllable proteins could illuminate cellular processes in real time and offer new levers for biomedical interventions that penetrate tissues.

"Maglov dims by about 50% when exposed to a magnetic field" - Benjamin Thompson

"you could use magnetic fields to guide proteins to where they need to be" - Nick Petridge Howe

Implications, challenges, and future directions

These two stories together illustrate a broader theme in modern biology: combining insights from genomics with innovative protein engineering and physical control methods to expand what is possible in medicine. The centenarian study highlights how genetic diversity might contribute to healthspan and lifespan, suggesting that future preventive strategies could benefit from understanding diverse genomic backgrounds and immune profiles. The magnetically controlled proteins research opens a different avenue—one where precise, non-invasive control of molecular behavior could enhance diagnostics, targeted therapies, and fundamental studies of cellular dynamics. While the work is still in early stages, the multidisciplinary approach—spanning genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and physics—points to a future in which biology can be probed and steered with increasingly refined, non-invasive tools.

Overall, the episode underscores how innovations at the intersection of genetics and biophysics are advancing our understanding of longevity and offering exciting new tools for biomedical science. The next steps involve expanding testing to animal models, refining the magnetic responsiveness of proteins, and exploring practical applications in disease monitoring and therapy, all while addressing safety and ethical considerations inherent to genome and protein engineering.

Conclusion

By examining longevity through a genetic lens in a Brazilian population and by pushing the boundaries of magnetically responsive proteins, the episode showcases how science is moving toward more integrated, non-invasive strategies for health and disease. These developments could someday contribute to healthier aging and novel ways to manipulate biological systems, turning distant magnetic fields into tangible tools for medicine.