Spatial localization of Mms6 during biomineralization of Fe3O4 nanocrystals in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1

Magnetotactic bacteria mineralize nanometer-size crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) through a series of protein-mediated reactions that occur inside of organelles called magnetosomes. Mms6 is a transmembrane protein thought to play a key role in magnetite mineralization. We used both electron and fluores...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials research 2016-03, Vol.31 (5), p.527-535
Main Authors: Oestreicher, Zachery, Mumper, Eric, Gassman, Carol, Bazylinski, Dennis A., Lower, Steven K., Lower, Brian H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Applied and Technical Physics
Biomaterials
Biomineralization and Biomimetics Articles
Crystals
Inorganic Chemistry
Labeling
Mass spectrometry
Materials Engineering
Materials research
Materials Science
Microscopy
Morphology
Nanocrystals
Nanoparticles
Nanotechnology
Proteins
Scientific imaging
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Summary:Magnetotactic bacteria mineralize nanometer-size crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) through a series of protein-mediated reactions that occur inside of organelles called magnetosomes. Mms6 is a transmembrane protein thought to play a key role in magnetite mineralization. We used both electron and fluorescent microscopy to examine the subcellular location of Mms6 protein within single cells of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 using Mms6-specific antibodies. We also purified magnetosomes from M. magneticum to determine if Mms6 was physically attached to magnetite crystals. Our results show that Mms6 proteins are present during crystal growth, and Mms6 is found in direct contact with the magnetite crystals or within the lipid/protein membrane surrounding the magnetite crystals. Mms6 was not detected at other subcellular locations within the bacteria or isolated fractions. Because Mms6 was found to completely surround the magnetosomes rather than being localized to one specific area of the magnetosome, it appears that this protein could act on the entire magnetite crystal during the biomineralization process. This supports a model in which Mms6 functions to regulate Fe3O4 crystal morphology. This knowledge is important for future in vitro experiments utilizing Mms6 to synthesize tailored nanomagnets with specific physical or magnetic properties.
ISSN:0884-2914
2044-5326
DOI:10.1557/jmr.2016.41