Identifying Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms for Magnetosensation

Clites, Benjamin L.; Pierce, Jonathan T.

doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-072116-031312

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 104 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) biomineralize intracellular, membrane-bounded, nano-sized magnetic mineral crystals of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and/or greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ) called magnetosomes and are characterized by their ability to sense and swim along Earth’s magnetic field lines [ 3 ]. Magnetosomes are the only magnetoreceptors definitively located at a specific site within cells so far and are a sufficiently well-characterized system with which the origin and evolution of magnetotaxis can be explored [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic expansion of magnetotactic bacteria reveals an early common origin of magnetotaxis with lineage-specific evolution

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The origin and evolution of magnetoreception, which in diverse prokaryotes and protozoa is known as magnetotaxis and enables these microorganisms to detect Earth’s magnetic field for orientation and navigation, is not well understood in evolutionary biology. The only known prokaryotes capable of sensing the geomagnetic field are magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), motile microorganisms that biomineralize intracellular, membrane-bounded magnetic single-domain crystals of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) called magnetosomes. Magnetosomes are responsible for magnetotaxis in MTB. Here we report the first large-scale metagenomic survey of MTB from both northern and southern hemispheres combined with 28 genomes from uncultivated MTB. These genomes expand greatly the coverage of MTB in the Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Omnitrophica phyla, and provide the first genomic evidence of MTB belonging to the Zetaproteobacteria and “Candidatus Lambdaproteobacteria” classes. The gene content and organization of magnetosome gene clusters, which are physically grouped genes that encode proteins for magnetosome biosynthesis and organization, are more conserved within phylogenetically similar groups than between different taxonomic lineages. Moreover, the phylogenies of core magnetosome proteins form monophyletic clades. Together, these results suggest a common ancient origin of iron-based (Fe3O4 and Fe3S4) magnetotaxis in the domain Bacteria that underwent lineage-specific evolution, shedding new light on the origin and evolution of biomineralization and magnetotaxis, and expanding significantly the phylogenomic representation of MTB.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic expansion of magnetotactic bacteria reveals an early common origin of magnetotaxis with lineage-specific evolution

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite evidence that magnetoreception is widespread in the animal kingdom, a magnetoreceptor and accompanying underlying neural circuitry have yet to be identified in any animal (Shaw et al, 2015;Clites and Pierce, 2017;Nordmann et al, 2017). Many reasons have been cited for why magnetoreceptors have proven elusive, including the absence of large, obvious magnetoreceptive organs and the possibility that magnetoreceptors could exist anywhere within an animal (Johnsen and Lohmann, 2005;Shaw et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reanalysis of an oft-cited paper on honeybee magnetoreception reveals random behavior

Baltzley

Nabity

2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While mounting evidence indicates that a phylogenetically diverse group of animals detect Earth-strength magnetic fields, a magnetoreceptor has not been identified in any animal. One possible reason that identifying a magnetoreceptor has proven challenging is that, like many research fields, magnetoreception research lacks extensive independent replication. Independent replication is important because a subset of studies undoubtedly contain false positive results and without replication it is difficult to determine whether the outcome of an experiment is a false positive. However, we report here a reanalysis of a well-cited paper on honeybee magnetoreception demonstrating that the original paper represented a false positive finding caused by incorrect estimates of probability. We also point out how good experimental design practices could have revealed the error prior to publication. Hopefully, this reanalysis will serve as a reminder of the importance of good experimental design in order to reduce the likelihood of publishing false positive results.

show abstract

“…It is well known that animals and birds that migrate can use magnetic field detection systems in their brains, as well as optic sensing to direct navigation during migration (reviewed in [23]). It has also been reported that exposure to weak magnetic fields can manipulate regeneration in worms either positively or negatively depending on the field strength [24].…”

Section: Space Flight-the New Opportunity For Understanding Homo Sapiensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Space Environments in System Physiologic and Molecular Integrity: Redefining the Concept of Human Health beyond the Boundary Conditions of Earth

Hart¹

2019

JBiSE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Space travel since the 1960s has led to a number of physiological alterations to homeostasis in astronauts. Extensive variation in the pattern of responses observed has led a concerted effort to develop countermeasures to overcome such changes and restore homeostasis, and thus "health" is defined as more "Earth-like". These adaptations to a space environment by a species which evolved and normally exists in the 1 g environment, the geomagnetic field, and background radiation of Earth are viewed as threats to health as defined by the conditions of Earth. Exposure to space can lead to alterations in genomic stability and epigenetic signatures, alterations which could redefine "health" and responses to risks for loss of health for those who will return to Earth. In contrast, in the future individuals born in non-Earth space environments will likely develop an integrated metabolic set point defined by those conditions. They will thus be shaped by both the local environments, and space-associated genomic/epigenomic alterations to their parents. Therefore, such an altered set point for those born and raised in non-Earth space environments will potentially have physiological and molecular consequences which may lead to either new evolutionary adaptation, or to compromise of long term health due to drastically altered set points for integrated physiologic function which is at odds with the evolutionary history of humans. The implications of the two options will be critical for defining "health" in altered environments encountered during space ventures, as well as providing insights into the regulation of human integrity at the physiological level. Therefore, the definition of "health" is dependent on the boundary conditions surrounding development and maturation, and is a dynamic concept.

show abstract

Identifying Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms for Magnetosensation

Cited by 35 publications

References 104 publications

Genomic expansion of magnetotactic bacteria reveals an early common origin of magnetotaxis with lineage-specific evolution

Genomic expansion of magnetotactic bacteria reveals an early common origin of magnetotaxis with lineage-specific evolution

Reanalysis of an oft-cited paper on honeybee magnetoreception reveals random behavior

Influence of Space Environments in System Physiologic and Molecular Integrity: Redefining the Concept of Human Health beyond the Boundary Conditions of Earth

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About