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Magnetosome magnetite biomineralization in a flagellated protist: evidence for an early evolutionary origin for magnetoreception in eukaryotes
Author(s) -
Leão Pedro,
Le Nagard Lucas,
Yuan Hao,
Cypriano Jefferson,
Da SilvaNeto Inácio,
Bazylinski Dennis A.,
AcostaAvalos Daniel,
Barros Henrique L.,
Hitchcock Adam P.,
Lins Ulysses,
Abreu Fernanda
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1111/1462-2920.14711
Subject(s) - magnetosome , magnetotactic bacteria , magnetoreception , biomineralization , magnetite , greigite , biology , protist , multicellular organism , evolutionary biology , astrobiology , paleontology , earth's magnetic field , genetics , magnetic field , cell , physics , quantum mechanics , gene
Summary The most well‐recognized magnetoreception behaviour is that of the magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which synthesize membrane‐bounded magnetic nanocrystals called magnetosomes via a biologically controlled process. The magnetic minerals identified in prokaryotic magnetosomes are magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ). Magnetosome crystals, regardless of composition, have consistent, species‐specific morphologies and single‐domain size range. Because of these features, magnetosome magnetite crystals possess specific properties in comparison to abiotic, chemically synthesized magnetite. Despite numerous discoveries regarding MTB phylogeny over the last decades, this diversity is still considered underestimated. Characterization of magnetotactic microorganisms is important as it might provide insights into the origin and establishment of magnetoreception in general, including eukaryotes. Here, we describe the magnetotactic behaviour and characterize the magnetosomes from a flagellated protist using culture‐independent methods. Results strongly suggest that, unlike previously described magnetotactic protists, this flagellate is capable of biomineralizing its own anisotropic magnetite magnetosomes, which are aligned in complex aggregations of multiple chains within the cell. This organism has a similar response to magnetic field inversions as MTB. Therefore, this eukaryotic species might represent an early origin of magnetoreception based on magnetite biomineralization. It should add to the definition of parameters and criteria to classify biogenic magnetite in the fossil record.