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Peer-reviewedCC BYnpj Microgravity

Time-averaged simulated microgravity ameliorates tau-induced deficit in Drosophila melanogaster

  • Sung Yeon Park1
  • Sungwoo Park2
  • Hye-Joon Park3
  • Hyeongjun Park4
  • Bok Jik Lee4
  • Sungwan Kim5
  • Yang-Sook Chun1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine
  2. 2Institute of Convergence Medicine with Innovative Technology, Seoul National University Hospital
  3. 3Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine
  4. 4Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University
  5. 5Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Graduate School, Seoul National University
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Abstract

Space exploration presents environmental challenges, including microgravity, high-energy radiation, and extreme temperature changes. Accelerated aging in space provides a unique opportunity to study age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are characterized by neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. We studied how time-averaged simulated microgravity (taSMG), which replicates space conditions, affects tauR406W-induced neurotoxicity in transgenic flies. Applying taSMG at an early stage of neurodegeneration reduced severe locomotion impairment in tauR406W-expressing flies. This protective effect was sustained, specific to the tau mutation, and dependent on the timing, duration, and severity of tau expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that taSMG normalizes gene expression related to the extracellular environment, innate immune response, and olfactory function. These results underscore gravity’s role in modulating tauopathy and suggest that microgravity may potentially offer new therapeutic insights for neurodegenerative diseases.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{park2026timeaveraged,
  title = {{Time-averaged simulated microgravity ameliorates tau-induced deficit in Drosophila melanogaster}},
  author = {Sung Yeon Park and Sungwoo Park and Hye-Joon Park and Hyeongjun Park and Bok Jik Lee and Sungwan Kim and Yang-Sook Chun},
  journal = {npj Microgravity},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41526-026-00626-9},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00626-9},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Time-averaged simulated microgravity ameliorates tau-induced deficit in Drosophila melanogaster
AU  - Sung Yeon Park
AU  - Sungwoo Park
AU  - Hye-Joon Park
AU  - Hyeongjun Park
AU  - Bok Jik Lee
AU  - Sungwan Kim
AU  - Yang-Sook Chun
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - npj Microgravity
DO  - 10.1038/s41526-026-00626-9
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00626-9
AB  - Space exploration presents environmental challenges, including microgravity, high-energy radiation, and extreme temperature changes. Accelerated aging in space provides a unique opportunity to study age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are characterized by neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. We studied how time-averaged simulated microgravity (taSMG), which replicates space conditions, affects tauR406W-induced neurotoxicity in transgenic flies. Applying taSMG at an early stage of neurodegeneration reduced severe locomotion impairment in tauR406W-expressing flies. This protective effect was sustained, specific to the tau mutation, and dependent on the timing, duration, and severity of tau expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that taSMG normalizes gene expression related to the extracellular environment, innate immune response, and olfactory function. These results underscore gravity’s role in modulating tauopathy and suggest that microgravity may potentially offer new therapeutic insights for neurodegenerative diseases.
SN  - 2373-8065
ER  -