Essential magnetosome proteins MamI and MamL from magnetotactic bacteria interact in mammalian cells

Abstract To detect cellular activities deep within the body using magnetic resonance platforms, magnetosomes are the ideal model of genetically-encoded nanoparticles. These membrane-bound iron biominerals produced by magnetotactic bacteria are highly regulated by approximately 30 genes; however, only a few magnetosome genes are essential and may constitute the root structure upon which biominerals form. To test this, essential magnetosome genes mamI and mamL were expressed as fluorescent fusion proteins in mammalian cells. Localization and potential protein-protein interaction(s) were investigated using confocal microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-MamI and the red fluorescent Tomato-MamL displayed distinct intracellular localization, with net-like and punctate fluorescence, respectively. Remarkably, co-expression revealed co-localization of both fluorescent fusion proteins in the same punctate pattern. An interaction between MamI and MamL was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, changes in EGFP-MamI distribution were accompanied by acquisition of intracellular mobility which all Tomato-MamL structures displayed. Truncation of the MamL C-terminal cationic peptide partially disrupted MamI-MamL colocalization but not mobility. Analysis of extracts from these cells by FCS was consistent with an interaction between fluorescent fusion proteins, including an increase in particle radius. Co-localization and interaction of MamI and MamL demonstrate that these essential magnetosome proteins may have a role in assembly of the magnetosome in any cell type.