A Novel Isolate of Spherical Multicellular Magnetotactic Prokaryotes Has Two Magnetosome Gene Clusters and Synthesizes Both Magnetite and Greigite Crystals.

ABSTRACT: Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are a unique group of magnetotactic bacteria that are composed of 10-100 individual cells and show coordinated swimming along magnetic field lines. MMPs produce nanometer-sized magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and/or greigite (Fe₃S₄) crystals-termed magnetosomes. Two types of magnetosome gene cluster (MGC) that regulate biomineralization of magnetite and greigite have been found. Here, we describe a dominant spherical MMP (sMMP) species collected from the intertidal sediments of Jinsha Bay, in the South China Sea. The sMMPs were 4.78 ± 0.67 μm in diameter, comprised 14-40 cells helical symmetrically, and contained bullet-shaped magnetite and irregularly shaped greigite magnetosomes. Two sets of MGCs, one putatively

SUBMITTER: Cui K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9145555 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature