Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
Classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Alphaproteobacteria
Order: Rhodospirillales
Family: Rhodospirillaceae
Species
NCBI: [1] |
Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
Description and Significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
M. gryphiswaldense can be found in freshwater, aquatic environments where there is vertical chemical stratification (i.e., varying concentrations of oxygen and iron ions within the water) [1]. Specifically, M. gryphiswaldense is highly sensitive to oxygen concentrations; being microaerophilic, they prefer only very low levels of dissolved oxygen (around 0.5-1.0%) [1,6]. M. gryphiswaldense remains at an ideally oxygenated level within its environment through magnetotaxis [1]. The chain of magnetosomes within M. gryphiswaldense allows the microbe to be continually aligned with the geomagnetic field, providing a sense of direction [1]. If oxygen levels are too low, M. gryphiswaldense simply propels itself upwards in line with the geomagnetic field until it reaches an ideal oxygen concentration [1]. Likewise, if oxygen levels become too high, the microbe simple reverses its direction of flagella rotation, and swims down along the geomagnetic field lines until it reaches lower oxygen levels [1]. By limiting movement to a fixed axis that aligns with the oxygen gradient, M. gryphiswaldense is able to efficiently explore an maneuver within its environment.
References
[4] Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense (ID 1508). (2014).
[6] [https://doi.org/10.1007/s007060200047 Šafařík, I., & Šafaříkov&#, M. (2002). Magnetic Nanoparticles and Biosciences. Monatshefte f�r Chemie / Chemical Monthly, 133(6), 737–759.]
Author
Page authored by MacKenzie Emch, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.