‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis’, a multicellular, magnetotactic prokaryote from a hypersaline environment

Abreu, Fernanda; Martins, Juliana L.; Silveira, Timotheo Souza; Keim, Carolina N.; Barros, H. G. P. Lins de; Filho, Frederico José Gueiros; Lins, Ulysses

doi:10.1099/ijs.0.64857-0

Cited by 135 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Occasionally, they appeared to lose the ability to control the division process, resulting in huge aggregates of cells with a diameter of about approximately 40 mm. Despite these differences, fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes specific to MMPs (DeLong et al, 1993;Abreu et al, 2007) confirmed that the microorganisms in culture were Ca. M. multicellularis ( Figure 5).…”

Section: Enrichment Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Deciphering unusual uncultured magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes through genomics

et al. 2013

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Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis (Ca. M. multicellularis) is a member of a group of uncultured magnetotactic prokaryotes that possesses a unique multicellular morphology. To better understand this organism's physiology, we used a genomic approach through pyrosequencing. Genomic data analysis corroborates previous structural studies and reveals the proteins that are likely involved in multicellular morphogenesis of this microorganism. Interestingly, some detected protein sequences that might be involved in cell adhesion are homologues to phylogenetically unrelated filamentous multicellular bacteria proteins, suggesting their contribution in the early development of multicellular organization in Bacteria. Genes related to the behavior of Ca. M. multicellularis (chemo-, photo-and magnetotaxis) and its metabolic capabilities were analyzed. On the basis of the genomic-physiologic information, enrichment media were tested. One medium supported chemoorganoheterotrophic growth of Ca. M. multicellularis and allowed the microorganisms to maintain their multicellular morphology and cell cycle, confirming for the first time that the entire life cycle of the MMP occurs in a multicellular form. Because Ca. M. multicellularis has a unique multicellular life style, its cultivation is an important achievement for further studies regarding the multicellular evolution in prokaryotes.

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Section: Enrichment Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Deciphering unusual uncultured magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes through genomics

et al. 2013

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“…No unicellular bacterium with or without magnetosomes was observed. The purity of the samples was also checked by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes according to Abreu et al (2007). The only 16S rRNA gene obtained from MTB was that of Ca.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some doubt has been raised regarding the true phylogenetic relationship of this organism (Amann et al, 2006) and the recent isolation of two new gammaproteobacterial rod-shaped MTB (Lefèvre et al, 2010b) suggests that the organism described by Simmons et al (2004) biomineralizes magnetite. Confirmed greigite-producing MTB whose 16S rRNA gene has been sequenced include only the multicellular magnetotactic prokaryote Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis and bacteria morphologically similar to it (Abreu et al, 2007;Simmons and Edwards, 2007). This microorganism consists of an assemblage of genetically identical, Gram-negative bacteria that are capable of collectively migrating along magnetic field lines because of the coordinated rotation of flagella that cover each cell on one side.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Greigite-producing MTB have not been cultured and include a group of morphologically similar multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes affiliated with Deltaproteobacteria (Abreu et al, 2007;Simmons and Edwards, 2007) and large rod-shaped bacteria (Pó sfai et al, 1998a), whose phylogeny has not been studied in detail. One report suggests that at least one type of greigite-producing MTB is affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria (Simmons et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ca. M. multicellularis is characterized by a multicellular life cycle with no apparent cell differentiation and intercellular communication between cells (Abreu et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Common ancestry of iron oxide- and iron-sulfide-based biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria

et al. 2011

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Magnetosomes are prokaryotic organelles produced by magnetotactic bacteria that consist of nanometer-sized magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) or/and greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ) magnetic crystals enveloped by a lipid bilayer membrane. In magnetite-producing magnetotactic bacteria, proteins present in the magnetosome membrane modulate biomineralization of the magnetite crystal. In these microorganisms, genes that encode for magnetosome membrane proteins as well as genes involved in the construction of the magnetite magnetosome chain, the mam and mms genes, are organized within a genomic island. However, partially because there are presently no greigite-producing magnetotactic bacteria in pure culture, little is known regarding the greigite biomineralization process in these organisms including whether similar genes are involved in the process. Here using cultureindependent techniques, we now show that mam genes involved in the production of magnetite magnetosomes are also present in greigite-producing magnetotactic bacteria. This finding suggest that the biomineralization of magnetite and greigite did not have evolve independently (that is, magnetotaxis is polyphyletic) as once suggested. Instead, results presented here are consistent with a model in which the ability to biomineralize magnetosomes and the possession of the mam genes was acquired by bacteria from a common ancestor, that is, the magnetotactic trait is monophyletic.

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Magnetotaxis in Prokaryotes

Lefèvre¹,

Frankel²,

Bazylinski³

2011

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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Magnetotaxis refers to the behaviour of some motile, aquatic, bacteria that orient and swim along magnetic field lines. These microorganisms, called magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), contain intracellular structures known as magnetosomes, which are nano‐sized, magnetic, iron‐mineral crystals, each enveloped by a biological (phospholipid bilayer) membrane. Magnetosomes are usually arranged in chains within the cell, providing it with a permanent magnetic dipole moment that facilitates location and retention in the cell's preferred habitat at or below the oxic–anoxic interface in the water column or sediment. Although all MTB are motile by means of flagella and have a cell wall structure characteristic of Gram‐negative bacteria, their diversity is reflected by the large number of different morphotypes found in environmental samples of water or sediment, and by phylogenetic analysis of both cultured and uncultured organisms. Key Concepts: Prokaryotes (bacteria), like eukaryotes, internally compartmentalise and contain organelles. The prokaryotic flagellum rotates clockwise and counter clockwise thereby propelling the cell during swimming. Magnetotaxis is bacterial motility directed by a magnetic field. Magnetotactic bacteria contain intracellular, nano‐scale, membrane‐enveloped, magnetic iron‐mineral crystals called magnetosomes. Magnetosomes impart a permanent magnetic dipole moment to cells of magnetotactic bacteria causing them to behave as miniature, motile, compass needles. Magnetotaxis works in conjunction with aerotaxis to increase energy transduction in magnetotactic bacteria. Genes for magnetosome formation are clustered in a region of the genomes of magnetotactic bacteria known as a magnetosome gene or genomic island. Magnetotactic bacteria are important in the cycling of a number of important elements including carbon, iron, nitrogen and sulfur.

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‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis’, a multicellular, magnetotactic prokaryote from a hypersaline environment

Cited by 135 publications

References 16 publications

Deciphering unusual uncultured magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes through genomics

Deciphering unusual uncultured magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes through genomics

Common ancestry of iron oxide- and iron-sulfide-based biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotaxis in Prokaryotes

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