Definition
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a diverse group of Gram-negative, motile prokaryotes that align and migrate along the geomagnetic field. This magnetotactic behavior is based on intracellular organelles called magnetosomes, which are inorganic nanocrystals of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4), surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane. The magnetosomes are typically arranged in one or more chains, conveying a magnetic dipole moment to the cell (Figure 1). Magnetotaxis is thought to be beneficial for the cell for finding its optimum position in vertical concentration gradients in aquatic habitats.
A cell of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense that contains a single chain of magnetite magnetosomes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Amann, R., Peplies, J., and Schüler, D., 2007. Diversity and taxonomy of magnetotactic bacteria. In Schüler, D. (ed.), Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, pp. 25–36.
Bazylinski, D. A., and Frankel, R. B., 2004. Magnetosome formation in prokaryotes. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2, 217–230.
Bellini, S., 1963. Su di un particolare comportamento di batteri d’acqua dolce. Instituto di Microbiologia dell’Universita di Pavia.
Blakemore, R. P., 1975. Magnetotactic bactaeria. Science, 190, 377–379.
Dunin-Borkowski, R. E., McCartney, M. R., Pósfai, M., Frankel, R. B., Bazylinski, D. A., and Buseck, P. R., 2001. Off-axis electron holography of magnetotactic bacteria: magnetic microstructure of strains MV-1 and MS-1. European Journal of Mineralogy, 13, 671–684.
Farina, M., Esquivel, D. M. S., and Lins de Barros, H. G. P., 1990. Magnetic iron-sulphur crystals from a magnetotactic microorganism. Nature, 343, 256–258.
Frankel, R. B., Blakemore, R. P., and Wolfe, R. S., 1979. Magnetite in freshwater magnetotactic bacteria. Science, 203, 1355–1356.
Frankel, R. B., Bazylinski, D. A., Johnson, M. S., and Taylor, B. L., 1997. Magneto-aerotaxis in marine coccoid bacteria. Biophysical Journal, 73, 994–1000.
Jogler, C., and Schüler, D., 2007. Genetic analysis of magnetosome biomineralization. In Schüler, D. (ed.), Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, pp. 133–162.
Keim, C. N., Abreu, F., Lins, U., Lins de Barros, H. G. P., and Farina, M., 2004. Cell organization and ultrastructure of a magnetotactic multicellular organism. Journal of Structural Biology, 145, 254–262.
Komeili, A., Li, Z., Newman, D. K., and Jensen, G. J., 2006. Magnetosomes are cell membrane invaginations organized by the actin-like protein Mamk. Science, 311, 242–245.
Kopp, R. E., and Kirschvink, J. L., 2008. The identification and biogeochemical interpretation of fossil magnetotactic bacteria. Earth-Science Reviews, 86, 42–61.
Mann, S., Sparks, N. H. C., Frankel, R. B., Bazylinski, D. A., and Jannasch, H. W., 1990. Biomineralization of ferrimagnetic greigite (Fe3S4) and iron pyrite (FeS2) in a magnetotactic bacterium. Nature, 343, 258–261.
Matsunaga, T., and Arakaki, A., 2007. Molecular bioengineering of bacterial magnetic particles for biotechnological applications. In Schüler, D. (ed.), Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, pp. 227–254.
Pósfai, M., Kasama, T., and Dunin-Borkowski, R. E., 2007. Characterization of bacterial magnetic nanostructures using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and off-axis electron holography. In Schüler, D. (ed.), Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, pp. 175–226.
Scheffel, A., Gruska, M., Faivre, D., Linaroudis, A., Plitzko, J. M., and Schüler, D., 2006. An acidic protein aligns magnetosomes along a filamentous structure in magnetotactic bacteria. Nature, 440, 110–114.
Schüler, D., 2007. Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, p. 319.
Simmons, S. L., Sievert, S. M., Frankel, R. B., Bazylinski, D. A., and Edwards, K. J., 2004. Spatiotemporal distribution of marine magnetotactic bacteria in a seasonally stratified coastal salt pond. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70, 6230–6239.
Winklhofer, M., and Petersen, N., 2007. Paleomagnetism and magnetic bacteria. In Schüler, D. (ed.), Magnetoreception and Magnetosomes in Bacteria. Berlin: Springer, pp. 255–274.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Pósfai, M. (2011). Magnetotactic Bacteria. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_128
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_128
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-9211-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-9212-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences