Critical Superparamagnetic/single-domain Grain-sizes In Interacting Magnetite Particles: Implications For Magnetosomes

Magnetotactic bacteria contain chains of magnetically interacting crystals (magnetosome crystals), which they use for navigation (magnetotaxis).


To improve navigation the magnetosome crystals (usually made of iron oxide) should be magnetically stable. Very small particles become magnetically unstable due to thermal excitation. Previous calculations for the stability threshold size not did include the contribution of magnetic interactions.


The inclusion of which, is found to decrease the threshold size, thereby increasing the range of stable magnetic behaviour. We argue that chains of interacting magnetosome crystals found in magnetotactic bacteria have utilized magnetic interactions to improve navigation.


Journal of the Royal Society Interface


Journal of the Royal Society Interface is the Society's cross-disciplinary publication promoting research at the interface between the physical and life sciences. It offers rapidity, visibility and high-quality peer review and is ranked fifth in JCR's multidisciplinary category. The journal also incorporates Interface Focus, a peer-reviewed, themed supplement, each issue of which concentrates on a specific cross-disciplinary subject.


Journal of the Royal Society Interface