Dynamic Remodeling of the Magnetosome Membrane Is Triggered by the Initiation of Biomineralization

What is it about?

Magnetotactic bacteria make chains of magnetic crystals to navigate their environment using the earth's magnetic field. These crystals are made inside of membrane pockets and aligned along the length of the cell. We discovered that the size of the membrane pocket itself can dynamically change to help control crystal formation.

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Why is it important?

Magnetotactic bacteria make magnetic nanoparticles inside membrane-bound organelles called magnetosomes; however, it is unclear how the magnetosome membrane controls the biomineralization that occurs within this bacterial organelle. We placed magnetosome formation under inducible control in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and used electron cryo-tomography to capture magnetosomes in their near-native state as they form de novo. An inducible system provided the key evidence that magnetosome membranes grow continuously unless they have not properly initiated biomineralization. Our finding that the size of a bacterial organelle impacts its biochemical function is a fundamental advance that impacts our perception of organelle formation and can inform future attempts aimed at creating designer magnetic particles.