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Other Unique Bacteria

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...

Ferromagnetism

Ferromagnetism

Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...

Magnetism

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...

Paramagnetism

Paramagnetism

Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...

Diamagnetism

Diamagnetism

Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.

Potential Due to a Magnetized Object

Potential Due to a Magnetized Object

Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

Published on: October 17, 2018

Magnetosomes: how do they stay in shape?

Dorothee Murat¹

¹Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7283, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France. dmurat@imm.cnrs.fr

Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology

|April 26, 2013

Summary

Bacteria possess subcellular compartments, challenging the traditional view of eukaryotes as the sole creators of nuclei and organelles. Studying bacterial compartmentalization may reveal the origins of eukaryotic cell complexity.

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Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamAΔ41

Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamAΔ41

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Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains

Published on: July 20, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

Published on: October 17, 2018

Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamAΔ41

Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamAΔ41

Published on: March 25, 2010

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains

Published on: July 20, 2022

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Microbiology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Eukaryotes are traditionally distinguished by a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Recent research reveals bacteria also exhibit subcellular compartmentalization, including DNA segregation.
This challenges the notion that eukaryotes uniquely evolved these structures.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanisms of organelle formation and protein targeting in bacteria.
To explore the evolutionary origins of cellular compartmentalization.
To understand how bacterial organelles are shaped, positioned, and segregated.

Main Methods:

High-resolution imaging techniques.
Bacterial cell biology studies.
Comparative genomics (implied).

Main Results:

Bacteria can form subcellular compartments, including those housing DNA.
Some bacteria isolate specific reactions within specialized organelles.
The mechanisms for bacterial organelle biogenesis and protein addressing are largely unknown.

Conclusions:

The evolution of the nucleus and organelles may have bacterial origins.
Studying bacterial compartmentalization offers insights into eukaryotic cell evolution.
Bacterial organelle research could yield new strategies for membrane curvature control and protein targeting.