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Restoration and Modification of Magnetosome Biosynthesis by Internal Gene Acquisition in a Magnetotactic Bacterium
Author(s) -
Arakaki Atsushi,
Goto Mayu,
Maruyama Mina,
Yoda Takuto,
Tanaka Masayoshi,
Yamagishi Ayana,
Yoshikuni Yasuo,
Matsunaga Tadashi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.202000278
Subject(s) - magnetosome , magnetotactic bacteria , plasmid , biology , gene , genome , genetics , operon , computational biology , mutant , bacteria
Integration of a large‐sized DNA fragment into a chromosome is an important strategy for characterization of cellular functions in microorganisms. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize intracellular organelles comprising membrane‐bound single crystalline magnetite, also referred to as magnetosomes. Magnetosomes have gained interest in both scientific and engineering sectors as they can be utilized as a material for biomedical and nanotechnological applications. Although genetic engineering of magnetosome biosynthesis mechanism has been investigated, the current method requires cumbersome gene preparation processes. Here, the chromosomal integration of a plasmid containing ≈27 magnetosome genes (≈26 kbp region) in a non‐magnetic mutant of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB‐1 using a broad‐host‐range plasmid is shown. The genome sequencing of gene‐complemented strains reveals the chromosomal integration of the plasmid with magnetosome genes at a specific site, most likely by catalysis of an endogenous transposase. Magnetosome production is successfully enhanced by integrating a variation of magnetosome gene operons in the chromosome. This chromosomal integration mechanism will allow the design of functional magnetosomes de novo and M. magneticum AMB‐1 may be used as a chassis for the designed magnetosome production.