Defining the Catalytic Region of Mms7 in Magnetosome Formation
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Date
2024-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Magnetosomes are lipid-encased magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB). Because they are small, magnetic, and biologically active, magnetosomes have significant applications in medicine, physics, and bioremediation. MTB are prokaryotes believed to use magnetosomes to align with the Earth’s magnetic field and influence their movement. These motile organisms have the potential to remove heavy metals from wastewater and achieve targeted drug delivery. However, there is currently no method of manufacturing substantial amounts of magnetosomes in a laboratory setting to reap these benefits. MTB are difficult to isolate and grow, and information about the Mms proteins involved in magnetosome formation is too limited to determine a process of artificial synthesis. This project aimed to identify regions within one Mms protein, Mms7, that play a role in magnetosome synthesis by comparing predicted protein structures of wild-type and mutationally-altered Mms7 proteins in silico. Upon analysis, five α-helices were consistently affected by substitutions in Mms7. Previous studies concluded that Mms7 is involved in magnetosome growth and crystal morphology, and the protein’s structure indicates that loops and transmembrane helices may contribute to these roles. With computational structural predictions, it may be possible to define active domains in Mms7 and identify residues critical to Fe3O4 growth or crystal morphology. Knowing how to synthesize well-defined Fe3O4 nanoparticles could advance the use of MTB in improving the health of the planet and its inhabitants.
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Keywords
magnetotactic bacteria, computational biochemistry, bioremediation, ColabFold, magnetite