Iron-Associated Outer Membrane Proteins of Magnetic Bacteria
Abstract
This project contributed to improved understanding of the growth, physiology and control of magnetite production by the magnetic bacterium Aquaspirillum magnetotacticum. As a result of the research performed under this contract it has become possible to i) culture A. magnetotacticum to high biomass yields in microaerobic continuous culture, and to ii) precisely regulate through reproducible control of culture parameters, the formation of membrane proteins and bacterial magnetosomes in vivo. This is a vital prerequisite to studies of gene expression and magnetosome biogenesis in this organism. In contrast to iron uptake by enteric bacteria, cell iron uptake was found to involve a non-specific active transport mechanism at low iron concentration. A hydroxamate siderophore was produced only with the culture iron at 10 micro moles, or greater. Keywords: Magnetism; Bacteria; Outer membranes; Periplasm; Iron reductase; Cytochrome; Magnetosome; Biological absorption; Membranes biology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 16, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA210088
Entities
People
- Richard P. Blakemore
Organizations
- University of New Hampshire