A bacterial gene, mms6, as a new reporter gene for magnetic resonance imaging of mammalian cells.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for noninvasive, deep tissue imaging with high spatial resolution, making it an attractive modality for in vivo cellular imaging. Since reporter genes can generate magnetic resonance (MR) contrast based on molecular activity, they offer a potentially powerful tool for cellular imaging. The mms6 gene was originally identified in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which is known to play a key role in magnetic crystal formation.