title: Influence of the bacterial growth phase on the magnetic properties of magnetosomes synthesized by Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense.
abstract: The magnetosome biosynthesis is a genetically controlled process but the physical properties of the magnetosomes can be slightly tuned by modifying the bacterial growth conditions.
  
  
  
  We designed two time-resolved experiments in which iron-starved bacteria at the mid-logarithmic phase are transferred to Fe-supplemented medium to induce the magnetosomes biogenesis along the exponential growth or at the stationary phase. We used flow cytometry to determine the cell concentration, transmission electron microscopy to image the magnetosomes, DC and AC magnetometry methods for the magnetic characterization, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to analyze the magnetosome structure.
  
  
  
  When the magnetosomes synthesis occurs during the exponential growth phase, they reach larger sizes and higher monodispersity, displaying a stoichiometric magnetite structure, as fingerprinted by the well defined Verwey temperature. On the contrary, the magnetosomes synthesized at the stationary phase reach smaller sizes and display a smeared Verwey transition, that suggests that these magnetosomes may deviate slightly from the perfect stoichiometry.
  
  
  
  Magnetosomes magnetically closer to stoichiometric magnetite are obtained when bacteria start synthesizing them at the exponential growth phase rather than at the stationary phase.
  
  
  
  The growth conditions influence the final properties of the biosynthesized magnetosomes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Recent Advances in Bionanomaterials" Guest Editors: Dr. Marie-Louise Saboungi and Dr. Samuel D. Bader.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Electricidad y Electrónica, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcano
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Física Aplicada I, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Bilbao 48013, Spain; BCMaterials, Parque tecnológico de Zamudio, Derio 48160, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Prieto
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Electricidad y Electrónica, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain; Dpto. de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: CITIMAC, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander 39005, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández Barquín
authors.affiliation: SGIker, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orue
authors.affiliation: BCMaterials, Parque tecnológico de Zamudio, Derio 48160, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: BCMaterials, Parque tecnológico de Zamudio, Derio 48160, Spain; Dpto. de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muela
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Electricidad y Electrónica, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain; BCMaterials, Parque tecnológico de Zamudio, Derio 48160, Spain.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fdez-Gubieda
mesh_terms: D005434:Flow Cytometry; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055944:Magnetosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042201:Magnetospirillum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D013997:Time Factors; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles
keywords: Magnetic nanoparticles; Magnetite; Magnetotactic bacteria; X-ray absorption spectroscopy