Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 28: Posters: Imaging
BP 28.7: Poster
Thursday, March 29, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Photoemission electron microscopy of magnetotactic bacteria — •Christoph Keutner1, Ulf Berges1, Claus M. Schneider2, and Carsten Westphal1 — 1DELTA / Experimentelle Physik I, TU Dortmund, Maria-Goeppert-Mayer-Str. 2, D-44221 Dortmund — 2PGI-6, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich
In their natural environment magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) respond to earth’s magnetic field by aligning their direction of motion parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field. This sensitivity to the magnetic field is caused by a magnetic particle chain contained within the MTB’s body, the so called magnetosome chain. Presently, there are first considerations of applying this phenomenon within a biologic propulsion and steering system for nanorobots [1]. Therefore the magnetic properties of these magnetosomes are of particular interest.
In this work first experiments of imaging MTB with photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) were performed, here the bacteria Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum [2]. In order to prepare the MTB in a UHV compatible way, several methods were tested. The best results were obtained with a lyophilized specimen applied on a Si-wafer. So far, first images of M. magnetotacticum could be recorded. In order to achieve a higher resolution and to image the internal magnetosome chain, further modifications and experiments are ongoing.
[1] S. Martel, M. Mohammadi, O. Felfoul, Z. Lu and P. Pouponneau, Int. J. Rob. Res. 28, 571 (2009)
[2] R. Blakemore, Science 190, 377 (1975)