Pembentukan Magnetosom pada Bakteri (Magnetosome Formation in Bacteria)

Abstract

Magnetic bacteria orient and navigate along geomagnetic field lines and are widely distributed in freshwater and marine habitat. The ability of these bacteria to respond to magnetic fields is based on the presence of intracellular magnetosome, i.e. membrane-bound magnetic particle of either magnetite (Fe3O4,) or greigite (Fe3S4). The magnetosome formation is achieved by tightly controlled processes which involves the accumulation of iron and deposition of the mineral particles at a specific location in the cell. Biomineralization of magnetosome may involve intricate processes, but the exact mechanisms is still poorly understood. This review focuses on the current knowledge about biochemical, physiological as well as molecular biological aspects of the biomineralization process of magnetic bacteria, especially in the magnetosome formation.