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Comparative genomic analysis of magnetotactic bacteria from the D eltaproteobacteria provides new insights into magnetite and greigite magnetosome genes required for magnetotaxis
Author(s) -
Lefèvre Christopher T.,
Trubitsyn Denis,
Abreu Fernanda,
Kolinko Sebastian,
Jogler Christian,
Almeida Luiz Gonzaga Paula,
Vasconcelos Ana Tereza R.,
Kube Michael,
Reinhardt Richard,
Lins Ulysses,
Pignol David,
Schüler Dirk,
Bazylinski Dennis A.,
Ginet Nicolas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12128
Subject(s) - magnetosome , magnetotactic bacteria , greigite , deltaproteobacteria , biology , alphaproteobacteria , genomic island , gene , magnetite , genetics , genome , bacteria , gammaproteobacteria , 16s ribosomal rna , paleontology
Summary Magnetotactic bacteria ( MTB ) represent a group of diverse motile prokaryotes that biomineralize magnetosomes, the organelles responsible for magnetotaxis. Magnetosomes consist of intracellular, membrane‐bounded, tens‐of‐nanometre‐sized crystals of the magnetic minerals magnetite ( Fe 3 O 4 ) or greigite ( Fe 3 S 4 ) and are usually organized as a chain within the cell acting like a compass needle. Most information regarding the biomineralization processes involved in magnetosome formation comes from studies involving A lphaproteobacteria species which biomineralize cuboctahedral and elongated prismatic crystals of magnetite. Many magnetosome genes, the mam genes, identified in these organisms are conserved in all known MTB . Here we present a comparative genomic analysis of magnetotactic D eltaproteobacteria that synthesize bullet‐shaped crystals of magnetite and/or greigite. We show that in addition to mam genes, there is a conserved set of genes, designated mad genes, specific to the magnetotactic D eltaproteobacteria , some also being present in C andidatus M agnetobacterium bavaricum of the N itrospirae phylum, but absent in the magnetotactic A lphaproteobacteria . Our results suggest that the number of genes associated with magnetotaxis in magnetotactic D eltaproteobacteria is larger than previously thought. We also demonstrate that the minimum set of mam genes necessary for magnetosome formation in M agnetospirillum is also conserved in magnetite‐producing, magnetotactic D eltaproteobacteria . Some putative novel functions of mad genes are discussed.