Structure of Magnetosomes from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense

Aim of this proposal is to study the structure of magnetosomes, which are chains of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles that we are able to extract and purify from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense bacteria. Magnetosomes are of significant interest as tools for delivery drugs to a targeted area because of their small size, ferromagnetic properties and presence of membrane proteins embedded in the lipid bilayer that covers the surface of the iron oxide core. Structural information regarding core and layer dimensions as well as layer composition and number of magnetosome units per chain will be obtained with contrast variation SANS experiments that we plan to perform on samples obtained by bacteria that have been grown under a wide range of controlled conditions.