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Morphology and structure of biogenic magnetite particles

Abstract

Blakemore1 found aquatic bacteria that swim along magnetic lines of force. Such bacteria have small particles of magnetite (magnetosomes) within them2,3 of various shapes3–5. We describe here the morphology and structure of bacterial magnetosomes investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. From direct observation of various kinds of lattice images, the particles are determined to be single crystals with a hexagonal prism shape truncated by {111} planes. The lattice spacings measured agree with those of magnetite.

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Matsuda, T., Endo, J., Osakabe, N. et al. Morphology and structure of biogenic magnetite particles. Nature 302, 411–412 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/302411a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/302411a0

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