title: Magnetotactic bacteria as potential sources of bioproducts.
abstract: Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce intracellular organelles called magnetosomes which are magnetic nanoparticles composed of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) enveloped by a lipid bilayer. The synthesis of a magnetosome is through a genetically controlled process in which the bacterium has control over the composition, direction of crystal growth, and the size and shape of the mineral crystal. As a result of this control, magnetosomes have narrow and uniform size ranges, relatively specific magnetic and crystalline properties, and an enveloping biological membrane. These features are not observed in magnetic particles produced abiotically and thus magnetosomes are of great interest in biotechnology. Most currently described MTB have been isolated from saline or brackish environments and the availability of their genomes has contributed to a better understanding and culturing of these fastidious microorganisms. Moreover, genome sequences have allowed researchers to study genes related to magnetosome production for the synthesis of magnetic particles for use in future commercial and medical applications. Here, we review the current information on the biology of MTB and apply, for the first time, a genome mining strategy on these microorganisms to search for secondary metabolite synthesis genes. More specifically, we discovered that the genome of the cultured MTB Magnetovibrio blakemorei, among other MTB, contains several metabolic pathways for the synthesis of secondary metabolites and other compounds, thereby raising the possibility of the co-production of new bioactive molecules along with magnetosomes by this species.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil. acvaraujo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina V
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil. fernandaaabreu@micro.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil. tsilvakaren@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Karen Tavares
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4004, USA. Dennis.Bazylinski@unlv.edu.
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bazylinski
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil. ulins@micro.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Ulysses
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lins
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D055944:Magnetosomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012244:Rhodospirillaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products