Appl Environ Microbiol. 2020 Sep 4:AEM.01278-20. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01278-20. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous aquatic microorganisms that form intracellular nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) in a genetically controlled manner. Magnetite and greigite synthesis requires MTB to transport a large amount of iron from the environment. Most intracellular iron was proposed to be contained within the crystals. However, recent mass spectrometry studies suggest that MTB may contain a large amount of iron that is not precipitated in crystals. Here, we attempt to resolve these discrepancies by performing chemical and magnetic assays to quantify the different iron pools in the magnetite-forming strain Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1, as well as mutant strains showing defects in crystal precipitation, cultivated at varying iron concentrations. All results show that magnetite represents at most 30 % of the total intracellular iron under our experimental conditions, and even less in the mutant strains. We further examined the iron speciation and subcellular localization in AMB-1 using the fluorescent indicator FIP-1 that is designed for detection of labile Fe(II). Staining with this probe suggests that unmineralized reduced iron is found in the cytoplasm and associated with magnetosomes. Our results demonstrate that, under our experimental conditions, AMB-1 is able to accumulate a large pool of iron distinct from magnetite. Finally, we discuss the biochemical and geochemical implications of these results.Importance Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce iron-based intracellular magnetic crystals. They represent a model system for studying iron homeostasis and biomineralization in microorganisms. MTB sequester an important iron mass in their crystals, and have thus been proposed to significantly impact the iron biogeochemical cycle. Several studies proposed that MTB could also accumulate iron in a reservoir distinct from their crystals. Here, we present a chemical and magnetic methodology for quantifying the iron pools of iron in the magnetotactic strain AMB-1. Results showed that most of iron is not contained in crystals. We then adapted protocols for the fluorescent Fe(II) detection in bacteria, and showed that iron could be detected outside of crystals using fluorescence assays. This work suggests a more complex picture for iron homeostasis in MTB than previously thought. Because iron speciation controls and its fate in the environment, our results also provide important insights into the geochemical impact of MTB.
PMID:32887716 | DOI:10.1128/AEM.01278-20