title: Disruption of a fur-like gene inhibits magnetosome formation in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1.
abstract: In this study, a genomic library of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 strain was constructed and a fur-like gene (encoding Fur protein, ferric uptake regulator) was isolated and sequenced. This gene consisted of 420 bp and encoded 139 amino acid residues. To investigate the function of this gene in MSR-1, a fur mutant was generated by double crossover with a kanamycin cassette inserted into its coding region. Iron uptake and magnetosome formation were dramatically inhibited by disruption of fur. Iron content analysis of the fur mutant indicated that it contained approximately 0.037% by dry weight, which was at least 10-fold less than that observed in the wild type. Electron microscopy revealed the absence of a magnetosome in the fur mutant, although it was able to tolerate 1 mM H2O2 at 10-fold higher level than wild-type. These data suggest that Fur protein may possess a novel function in magnetic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology and College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yijun
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weijia
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chengbo
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ying
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D015698:Genomic Library; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics; D042201:Magnetospirillum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C068477:ferric uptake regulating proteins, bacterial; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide