The combined effect of weak magnetic fields and nuclear spins of the magnetic isotope 25 Mg on the vital functions of E. coli bacterial cells was proved experimentally. For static external magnetic fields (0-15 mT), the value of colony forming units of the bacteria enriched in the magnetic isotope 25 Mg is higher than those for the bacterial cells containing nonmagnet ic isotopes 24 Mg and 26 Mg and natural magnesium *Mg. According to the intracellular elemen tal composition, the content of the most important macro and microelements depends on the type of the magnesium isotope (magnetic/nonmagnetic) and the external magnetic field. The magnetic field and magnetic isotope effects observed in bacteria E. coli prove the existence of magnetosensitive stages of enzymatic processes in living organisms.Key words: magnetic isotope effect, nuclear spin, colony forming ability, magnetic field, spin dependent enzymatic processes.Numerous studies showed that magnetic fields can af fect almost all living organisms: from bacteria to human being. The ability to be sensitive to the magnetic field of the Earth and its direction are considered to be possible explanation for the prolonged purposeful migrations of animals and birds. 1-2 Some species of pro and eukary otes, for example, bacteria Magnetospirillum magnetotacti cum, include special receptors, viz., magnetosomes con taining crystals and responsible for the sensitivity to the external magnetic field named magnetotaxis. 3 An alter nating magnetic field changes the growth parameters and colony forming ability of E. coli and S. aureus cell cul tures. 4-5 It was found that a static weak magnetic field (17 mT) inhibits the growth of bacteria E. coli and P. putida and increases the enzymatic activity of dehydrogenase and the intracellular content of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP). 6 The bactericidal effect of the external magnetic field (100 mT) on gram positive S. epidermidis and gram nega tive E. coli is observed, which appears as a destruction of the cell membrane. 7 However, similar magnetic field ef fects have no reliable physicochemical explanation, since the universal mechanism of biological magnetosensitivity is not established.Evidently, the influence of the magnetic field on bio logical systems should occur through a series of enzymatic reactions, each of which consists of a sequence of physical and chemical elementary processes. The chemical effects of the magnetic field are well known and proved for elemen tary acts of radical and ion radical reactions: possible "pri mary receivers" of the magnetic field in living organisms.The magnetic spin effects of chemical reactions are due to a change in the total spin state of ion radical or radical pairs. 8 Transitions of these pairs from chemically active singlet spin states to triplet states are induced by interactions of magnetic moments of electrons with exter nal magnetic fields and also by hyperfine interactions with spin moments of atomic nuclei.New approaches to the problem of biochemical and biological action of magnet...