A surprising makeover turns an ordinary protein into a magnetic sculptor

By studying an unusual group of magnetic microorganisms, scientists at UC Berkeley have uncovered a new and unexpected function for a ubiquitous protein family. Proteases are workhorse enzymes found in all living organisms that act in general cellular maintenance and communication by chewing up proteins. In a paper publishing in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology on March 16th 2016, the Komeili lab, along with collaborators in the Hurley and Chang groups, have now shown that a bacterial protei