Magnetite-Binding Flagellar Filaments Displaying the MamI Loop Motif

This work aimed at developing a novel method for fabricating 1 D magnetite nanostructures with the help of mutated flagellar filaments. We constructed four different flagellin mutants displaying magnetite-binding motifs: two contained fragments of magnetosome-associated proteins from magnetotactic bacteria (MamI and Mms6), and synthetic sequences were used for the other two. A magnetic selection method identified the MamI mutant as having the highest binding affinity to magnetite. Filaments built from MamI loop-containing flagellin subunits were used as templates to form chains of magnetite nanoparticles along the filament by capturing them from suspension. Our study represents a proof-of-concept that flagellar filaments can be engineered to facilitate formation of 1 D magnetite nanostructures under ambient conditions. In addition, it proves the interaction between MamI and magnetite, with implications for the role of this protein in magnetotactic bacteria.