Membrane vesicles in magnetotactic bacteria

Abstract

Magnetotactic bacteria are microorganisms that respond to magnetic fields. We have studied the surface ultrastructure of Magnetospirillium magnetotacticum and uncultured magnetotactic bacteria from a marine environment using transmission electron microscopy and freeze-etching. Numerous membrane vesicles were observed on the surface of Magnetospirillum niagnetotacticitin bacteria. All uncultured magnetotactic bacteria presented membrane vesicles on their surface in addition to an extensive capsular material and an S-layer formed by particles arranged in a hexagonal symmetry. We did not observe any indication of electron-dense precipitation on the surface of these microorganisms. Our results indicate that membrane vesicles are a common characteristic of magnetotactic bacteria in natural sediments.