Mangalam Achuthananthan Jayasri

Bio: Mangalam Achuthananthan Jayasri is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Magnetosome & Magnetotactic bacteria. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 2 citations.

The chemistry of magnetosomes

Abstract: Magnetite nanoparticles are becoming increasingly important for the development of novel biomedical and nanotechnology applications. What if these magnetite nanoparticles are synthesized with uniform shape, size, and dispersion? This leads to the significance of magnetosomes of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB). MTB are aquatic microorganisms that have the ability to biomineralize membrane-bound iron mineral nanocrystals called magnetosomes. Magnetosomes can be easily functionalized because of the presence of various chemical groups at their surface. To explore the world of magnetosomes, it is important to understand their surface chemistry. The two major components of magnetosomes are the magnetosome membrane (MM) and magnetite mineral. MM consists of lipids and proteins. The MM lipids are divided into three major groups of fatty acids phospholipids, glycolipids, and neutral lipids. The proteins present in MM are designated as “Mam” and “mms” proteins. Magnetosome magnetite crystals have unique properties over synthetic nanoparticles such as narrow size distribution, superior shape control, high purity with limited defects, better T2 reducing effect, and chain-like alignment. The genetic manipulation of biomolecules present in the membrane and the excellent characteristics of magnetite make magnetosomes a better candidate for biomedical applications.

Morphological and cellular diversity of magnetotactic bacteria: A review

Abstract: Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are getting much attention in the recent years due to the biomineralization in their magnetosomes (MS). MS are unique organelles that are bio-mineralized due to MTB. MS contains nanosized crystal minerals of magnetite or greigite covered by bilayer lipid membrane, which are originated from cytoplasmic membrane (CM). MS are organized as an ordered chain into the cell which acts as a miniature compass needle. Furthermore, the biodiversity of MTB and their distribution is principally linked with the characteristics and growths of the MS. MTB are often considered as a part of the bacterial biomass from all of the aquatic environments. There have been a lot of genes that control the functions of MTB by accumulating as clusters of genomes such as magnetosomes genomic island (MAI). Therefore, in the present review, the function of the genes and proteins has been highlighted, which are mainly associated with the construction and formation of MS. In addition, the biodiversity, morphology and cell biology of MTB is discussed in greater detail to understand the formation of MS crystals by MTB.