Open AccessConservation of magnetite biomineralization genes in all domains of life and implications for magnetic sensing
Author(s) -
M. Renee Bellinger,
Jiandong Wei,
Uwe Hartmann,
Hervé Cadiou,
Michael Winklhofer,
Michael Banks
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2108655119
Subject(s) - biomineralization , magnetoreception , biology , magnetite , evolutionary biology , magnetosome , eukaryote , magnetotactic bacteria , multicellular organism , prokaryote , gene , genetics , earth's magnetic field , paleontology , genome , physics , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
Significance We present a model of biogenic magnetite formation in eukaryotes and hypothesize this genetic mechanism is used by broad forms of life for geomagnetic sensory perception. Countering previous assertions that salmon olfactory tissues lack biogenic magnetite, we determine that it is present in the form of compact crystal clusters and show that a subset of genes differentially expressed in candidate magnetoreceptor cells, compared to nonmagnetic olfactory cells, are distant homologs to a core suite of genes utilized by magnetotactic bacteria for magnetite biomineralization. This same core gene suite is common to a broad array of eukaryotes and the Asgard clade archaea Lokiarchaeta. Findings have implications for revising our understanding of eukaryote magnetite biomineralization, sensory perception of magnetic fields, and eukaryogenesis.