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Magnetotactic Bacteria

Magnetotactic Bacteria Many organisms have been known for a long time to sense the earth's magnetic field. Certain bacteria are also geomagnetically sensitive. The way these bacteria interact with the geomagnetic field has proven useful in thinking about ways higher organisms may also do so. In fact, the ferromag­ netic detection system in bacteria has some interesting parallels in geomag­ netically responsive animals. Thus, just as prokaryotes have contributed to such fields as genetics and biochemistry, they are now valuable in newly emerging fields. Just as importantly, the magnetic property of these bacteria has permit­ ted us to identify, collect, and study them and to begin to evaluate their niche. The magnetotactic bacteria at first appear so unique as to deserve 217 0066-4227/82/1001-02 1 7$02.00 BLAKEMORE special taxonomic status. Indeed, all of those examined share several traits. They are Gram negative, motile (by means of flagella), microaerophilic, and aquatic, and they synthesize intracellular enveloped magnetic grains termed magnetosomes. However, despite these and perhaps other similarities, the diversity of cell morphology within the group (see Figures 1-7) and the fact that one isolate is similar to members of Aquaspirillum argues for rather widespread taxonomic distribution of the trait. Thus, "magnetotactic bac­ http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Microbiology Annual Reviews

Magnetotactic Bacteria

Blakemore, R P
Annual Review of Microbiology , Volume 36 (1) – Oct 1, 1982
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Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1982 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0066-4227
eISSN
1545-3251
DOI
10.1146/annurev.mi.36.100182.001245
pmid
6128956
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Many organisms have been known for a long time to sense the earth's magnetic field. Certain bacteria are also geomagnetically sensitive. The way these bacteria interact with the geomagnetic field has proven useful in thinking about ways higher organisms may also do so. In fact, the ferromag­ netic detection system in bacteria has some interesting parallels in geomag­ netically responsive animals. Thus, just as prokaryotes have contributed to such fields as genetics and biochemistry, they are now valuable in newly emerging fields. Just as importantly, the magnetic property of these bacteria has permit­ ted us to identify, collect, and study them and to begin to evaluate their niche. The magnetotactic bacteria at first appear so unique as to deserve 217 0066-4227/82/1001-02 1 7$02.00 BLAKEMORE special taxonomic status. Indeed, all of those examined share several traits. They are Gram negative, motile (by means of flagella), microaerophilic, and aquatic, and they synthesize intracellular enveloped magnetic grains termed magnetosomes. However, despite these and perhaps other similarities, the diversity of cell morphology within the group (see Figures 1-7) and the fact that one isolate is similar to members of Aquaspirillum argues for rather widespread taxonomic distribution of the trait. Thus, "magnetotactic bac­

Journal

Annual Review of Microbiology – Annual Reviews

Published: Oct 1, 1982

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