title: Magnetic microbes: Bacterial magnetite biomineralization.
abstract: Magnetotactic bacteria are a diverse group of prokaryotes with the ability to orient and migrate along the magnetic field lines in search for a preferred oxygen concentration in chemically stratified water columns and sediments. These microorganisms produce magnetosomes, the intracellular nanometer-sized magnetic crystals surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer membrane, typically organized in chains. Magnetosomes have nearly perfect crystal structures with narrow size distribution and species-specific morphologies, leading to well-defined magnetic properties. As a result, the magnetite biomineralization in these organisms is of fundamental interest to diverse disciplines, from biotechnology to astrobiology. This article highlights recent advances in the understanding of the bacterial magnetite biomineralization.
authors.affiliation: Emergent Atomic and Magnetic Structures, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US DOE Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Electronic address: tprozoro@ameslab.gov.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prozorov
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D008280:Magnetics; D055944:Magnetosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide
keywords: Magnetite biomineralization; Magnetosome magnetite nanocrystal; Magnetotactic bacteria