Location

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room

Start Date

6-8-2009 9:30 AM

End Date

6-8-2009 12:00 PM

Description

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a diverse group of prokaryotes that biomineralize membrane-bound magnetic crystals known as magnetosomes. The magnetosomes are aligned within the cell and consist of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4). The biomineralization of magnetosomes consists of several processes including: invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane, iron uptake into the cell and then into the magnetosome membrane vesicle, and crystallization of the mineral phase inside the vesicle. Mam genes control magnetosome biomineralization with most of the genes present in an island called a magnetosome island. Many of the mam genes are conserved between different species of MTB. The genes that are in the island have suggested that they play a significant role in the organization of the magnetosomes and how they align within the cell. The focus of this investigation is to determine if certain conserved mam genes are found in two isolated and metabolically diverse magnetotactic spirillums: LEMS and MMS-1.

Keywords

Biomineralization; Genetic research; Greigite; Magnetite; Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB); Magnetotactic Spirillums; Magnetosomes; Mam genes; Prokaryotes

Disciplines

Biochemistry | Genetics and Genomics

Language

English

Comments

Abstract & poster

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Aug 6th, 9:30 AM Aug 6th, 12:00 PM

The Characterization of two diverse magnetotactic bacteria: LEMS and MMS-1

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a diverse group of prokaryotes that biomineralize membrane-bound magnetic crystals known as magnetosomes. The magnetosomes are aligned within the cell and consist of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4). The biomineralization of magnetosomes consists of several processes including: invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane, iron uptake into the cell and then into the magnetosome membrane vesicle, and crystallization of the mineral phase inside the vesicle. Mam genes control magnetosome biomineralization with most of the genes present in an island called a magnetosome island. Many of the mam genes are conserved between different species of MTB. The genes that are in the island have suggested that they play a significant role in the organization of the magnetosomes and how they align within the cell. The focus of this investigation is to determine if certain conserved mam genes are found in two isolated and metabolically diverse magnetotactic spirillums: LEMS and MMS-1.