Biogenic magnetite in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans

Proc Biol Sci. 2004 Dec 7;271 Suppl 6(Suppl 6):S436-9. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2004.0209.

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used as a model system in biological research. Recently, examination of the production of heat-shock proteins in this organism in response to mobile phone-type electromagnetic field exposure produced the most robust demonstration to date of a non-thermal, deleterious biological effect. Though these results appear to be a sound demonstration of non-thermal bioeffects, to our knowledge, no mechanism has been proposed to explain them. We show, apparently for the first time, that biogenic magnetite, a ferrimagnetic iron oxide, is present in C. elegans. Its presence may have confounding effects on experiments involving electromagnetic fields as well as implications for the use of this nematode as a model system for iron biomineralization in multi-cellular organisms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / chemistry*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / ultrastructure
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide
  • Iron / analysis*
  • Magnetics
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxides / analysis*
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Iron
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide