Synchrotron-Based Nano-XANES Reveals Intracellular Heterogeneity of Iron Species in Magnetotactic Bacteria

This report demonstrates how scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM) and nanoscale X-ray absorption near-edge structure (nano-XANES) can spatially and chemically identify intracellular iron species at the single-cell level, creating an opportunity to examine the role of iron storage in magnetite biomineralization. Fe K-edge nano-XANES measurements of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense in varied iron media conditions and iron storage capacity revealed intracellular iron heterogeneities through a distinction between formed magnetosomes and intracellular iron material. This work highlights the potential of nano-XANES in providing an experimental advantage in the multidisciplinary field of biomineralization.