McaA and McaB control the dynamic positioning of a bacterial magnetic organelle

Juan Wan, Caroline L. Monteil, Azuma Taoka, Gabriel Ernie, Kieop Park, Matthieu Amor, Elias Taylor-Cornejo, Christopher T. Lefevre and Arash Komeili ()
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Juan Wan: University of California
Caroline L. Monteil: Institute of Biosciences and Biotechnologies of Aix-Marseille
Azuma Taoka: Kanazawa University
Gabriel Ernie: University of California
Kieop Park: University of California
Matthieu Amor: University of California
Elias Taylor-Cornejo: University of California
Christopher T. Lefevre: Institute of Biosciences and Biotechnologies of Aix-Marseille
Arash Komeili: University of California

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract Magnetotactic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that use intracellular chains of ferrimagnetic nanocrystals, produced within magnetosome organelles, to align and navigate along the geomagnetic field. Several conserved genes for magnetosome formation have been described, but the mechanisms leading to distinct species-specific magnetosome chain configurations remain unclear. Here, we show that the fragmented nature of magnetosome chains in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 is controlled by genes mcaA and mcaB. McaA recognizes the positive curvature of the inner cell membrane, while McaB localizes to magnetosomes. Along with the MamK actin-like cytoskeleton, McaA and McaB create space for addition of new magnetosomes in between pre-existing magnetosomes. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that McaA and McaB homologs are widespread among magnetotactic bacteria and may represent an ancient strategy for magnetosome positioning.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32914-9

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