Intracellular magnetite biomineralization in bacteria proceeds by a distinct pathway involving membrane-bound ferritin and an iron(II) species

A time-resolved study of magnetite formation in magnetotactic bacteria has shown that magnetite biomineralization proceeds first by coprecipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions and then via small magnetite crystallites (see picture) within invaginating magnetosomes associated with the cell membrane, which further develop into mature crystals after magnetosome vesicles are released from the cell membrane. (Figure Presented)