Magnetochrome-catalyzed oxidation of ferrous iron by MamP enables magnetite crystal growth in the magnetotactic bacterium AMB-1.

ABSTRACT: Magnetotactic bacteria have evolved the remarkable capacity to biomineralize chains of magnetite [Fe(II)Fe(III)₂O₄] nanoparticles that align along the geomagnetic field and optimize their navigation in the environment. Mechanisms enabling magnetite formation require the complex action of numerous proteins for iron acquisition, sequestration in dedicated magnetosome organelles, and precipitation into magnetite. The MamP protein contains c-type cytochromes called magnetochrome domains that are found exclusively in magnetotactic bacteria. Ablation of magnetochromes in MamP prevents bacteria from aligning with external magnetic fields, showing their importance to maintain this biological function. MamP has been proposed, mostly from in vitro experimentations, to regulate

SUBMITTER: Amor M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11648623 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature