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Abstract Magnetotactic bacteria orient and migrate the living world. Biomineralization of ferromagnetic
along geomagnetic field lines. This ability is based on materials, mainly magnetite, has been reported for an
intracellular magnetic structures, the magnetosomes, extremely diverse range of organisms including algae
which comprise nanometer-sized, membrane-bound (Torres de Araujo et al. 1986), insects (Maher 1998),
crystals of the magnetic iron minerals magnetite (Fe304) molluscs (Lowenstam 1981), fish (Mann et al. 1988),
or greigite (Fe3S4)' Magnetosome formation is achieved birds (Wiltschko and Wiltschko 1995) and even hu
by a mineralization process with biological control over mans (Kirschvink et al. 1992). The discovery of mag
the accumulation of iron and the deposition of the netotactic bacteria by R. Blakemore (1975) stimulated
mineral particle with specific size and orientation within interdisciplinary research interest among scientists, in
a membrane vesicle at specific locations in the cell. This cluding microbiologists, physicists, geologists, chemists,
review focuses on the current knowledge about magne and engineers. Commercial uses of bacterial magneto
totactic bacteria and will outline aspects of the physi some particles have been suggested, including the
ology and molecular biology of the biomineralization manufacture of magnetic tapes and printing inks,
process. Potential biotechnological applications of magnetic targeting of pharmaceuticals, cell separation
magnetotactic bacteria and their magnetosomes as well and their application as contrast-enhancement agents in
as perspectives for further research are discussed. magnetic resonance imaging (Blakemore 1983; Mann
et al. 1990; Matsunaga 1991; Schwartz and Blakemore
1984).
Introduction
The formation of biological hard materials, i.e., bone, Ecology and phylogeny of magnetotactic bacteria
shell and spicule, involves the deposition of specific in
organic minerals on or in an organic matrix in a highly Magnetotactic bacteria represent a heterogeneous group
controlled manner (Lowenstam 1981). Much current of procaryotes with a variety of morphological types
research is directed towards understanding these bio including cocci, rods, vibrios, spirilla and apparently
mineralization processes, which are collectively known multicellular forms (Bazylinski et al. 1994; Spring and
as biologically controlled mineralization, because of Schleifer 1995). They are constituents of natural micro
their relevance to the synthesis of advanced materials bial communities in sediments and chemically stratified
with tailored properties (Mann 1993; Moskowitz 1995). water columns and a broad diversity of morphological
One of the most intriguing examples of biologically forms has been found in many marine and freshwater
controlled mineralization is the formation of magnetic habitats. The highest numbers of magneto tactic bacteria
nano-crystals in magnetosomes within magnetotactic are generally found at the oxic/anoxic transition zone or
bacteria. The formation of magnetosomes in these or redoxocline, which is located in many freshwater habi
ganisms is a well-documented example of the appar tats at the sediment/water interface or just below
ently widespread occurrence of magnetic minerals in (Bazylinski 1995; Stolz 1993). Accordingly, nearly all of
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