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Nishida K and Silver PA  (2012) Induction of biogenic magnetization and redox control by a component of the target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway. PLoS Biol 10(2):e1001269

Abstract: Most organisms are simply diamagnetic, while magnetotactic bacteria and migratory animals are among organisms that exploit magnetism. Biogenic magnetization not only is of fundamental interest, but also has industrial potential. However, the key factor(s) that enable biogenic magnetization in coordination with other cellular functions and metabolism remain unknown. To address the requirements for induction and the application of synthetic bio-magnetism, we explored the creation of magnetism in a simple model organism. Cell magnetization was first observed by attraction towards a magnet when normally diamagnetic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were grown with ferric citrate. The magnetization was further enhanced by genetic modification of iron homeostasis and introduction of ferritin. The acquired magnetizable properties enabled the cells to be attracted to a magnet, and be trapped by a magnetic column. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry confirmed and quantitatively characterized the acquired paramagnetism. Electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed electron-dense iron-containing aggregates within the magnetized cells. Magnetization-based screening of gene knockouts identified Tco89p, a component of TORC1 (Target of rapamycin complex 1), as important for magnetization; loss of TCO89 and treatment with rapamycin reduced magnetization in a TCO89-dependent manner. The TCO89 expression level positively correlated with magnetization, enabling inducible magnetization. Several carbon metabolism genes were also shown to affect magnetization. Redox mediators indicated that TCO89 alters the intracellular redox to an oxidized state in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, we demonstrated that synthetic induction of magnetization is possible and that the key factors are local redox control through carbon metabolism and iron supply.

Status: Published Type: Journal Article PubMed ID: 22389629

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Topics Genes linked to topics (#1 - 10 )
CCC1 GRX2 GRX3 POS5 SNF1 SOD2 SSD1 TCO89 TOR1 UTR1
Additional Literature blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball
Cell Growth and Metabolism blue ball blue ball
Cross-species Expression blue ball
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Genetic Interactions blue ball blue ball
Mutants/Phenotypes blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball
Non-Fungal Related Genes/Proteins blue ball
Other Features blue ball
Primary Literature blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball
Strains/Constructs blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball blue ball
Techniques and Reagents blue ball

Topics Genes linked to topics (#11 - 12 )
YFH1 ZWF1
Mutants/Phenotypes blue ball blue ball
Primary Literature blue ball blue ball
Strains/Constructs blue ball blue ball

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