Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Ferrichrome”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Determination of ferrichrome binding to the FhuA outer membrane transport protein, periplasmic accumulation of ferrichrome, or transport of ferrichrome into cells using a three-layer oil technique.

A new method for the determination of ferrichrome binding to the FhuA transporter in the Escherichia coli outer membrane, ferrichrome accumulation in the periplasmic space, and ferrichrome transport into the cytoplasm was developed. Cells were separated from residual, soluble, radiolabeled ferrichrome by centrifugation in a micro-test tube containing three layers of nonmixable solutions of different densities. Cells in the upper aqueous layer passed through the middle silicone oil layer, but did not enter the underlying NaI layer, thereby accumulating on top of the NaI layer; soluble compounds remained in the upper aqueous layer. Cells were then easily recovered by centrifugation, and radioactivity was determined by liquid scintillation counting. Reproducible results for all applications tested were obtained without the need for any washing steps. The method was tested by determination of receptor binding and transport of ferrichrome with various FhuA mutants which, in contrast to their transport activity, showed only a weak binding of ferrichrome to FhuA and compared with the commonly used cellulose nitrate filter method. Similar transport rates were obtained with the two methods, but binding of ferrichrome to the mutated FhuA proteins and accumulation of ferrichrome in the periplasm could be measured only with the new method.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Retrohydroxamate ferrichrome, a biomimetic analogue of ferrichrome.

A new synthetic analogue of ferrichrome, retrohydroxamate ferrichrome, has been examined for biological activity. Although spectroscopic evidence indicates that the analogue is a weaker Fe(III) chelator than ferrichrome, retrohydroxamate ferrichrome is indistinguishable from ferrichrome in its growth factor activity for Arthrobacter flavescens, and in its potency in antagonizing the antibiotic activity of albomyhcin against Bacillus subtilis. It is as active as ferrichrome as a siderophore for the fungus, Ustaligo sphaerogena. In contrast, desmethylretrohydroxamate ferrichrome shows no significant biological activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Ferrichrome induces endosome to plasma membrane cycling of the ferrichrome transporter, Arn1p, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Siderophores are small iron-binding molecules that are synthesized and secreted in the iron-free form by microorganisms. Saccharomyces cerevisiae takes up iron bound to siderophores by two separate systems, one of which requires the ARN family of sidero phore-iron transporters. Arn1p and Arn3p are expressed in endosome-like intracellular vesicles. Here we present evidence that, in the absence of its specific substrate, ferrichrome, Arn1p is sorted directly from the Golgi to the endosomal compartment and does not cycle to the plasma membrane. When cells are exposed to ferrichrome at low concentrations, Arn1p stably relocalizes to the plasma membrane. At higher concentrations of ferrichrome, Arn1p relocalizes to the plasma membrane and rapidly undergoes endocytosis. Plasma membrane localization of Arn1p occurs only in the presence of its specific substrate, and not in the presence of other siderophores. Despite expression of Arn1p on the plasma membrane, mutant strains with defects in endocytosis exhibit reduced uptake of ferrichrome-iron. Thus, siderophores influence the trafficking of the Arn transporters within the cell and this trafficking is important for transporter function.

Cell Membrane↗

Evidence for common binding sites for ferrichrome compounds and bacteriophage phi 80 in the cell envelope of Escherichia coli.

Mutants ton A and ton B of Escherichia coli K12, known to be resistant to bacteriophage phi80, were found to be insensitive as well to albomycin, an analogue of the specific siderochrome ferrichrome. Ferrichrome at micromolar concentrations strongly inhibited plaque production by phi80. Preincubation with ferrichrome did not inactivate the phage. At a concentration at which ferrichrome allowed 90% inhibition of plaque formation, the chromium analogue of ferrichrome showed no detectable activity. Similarly, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ferrichrome A, and certain siderochromes structurally distinct from ferrichrome, such as ferrioxamine B, schizokinen, citrate, and enterobactin, did not show detectable inhibitory activity. However, rhodotorulic acid showed moderate activity. A host range mutant of phi80, phi80h, was also inhibited by ferrichrome, as was a hybrid of phage lambda possessing the host range of phi80. However, phage lambdacI- and a hybrid of phi80 possessing the host range of lambda were not affected by ferrichrome. Finally, ferrichrome and chromic deferriferrichrome were shown to inhibit adsorption of phi80 to sensitive cells, ferrichrome giving 50% inhibition of adsorption at a minimal concentration of 8 nM. It is suggested that a component of the ferrichrome uptake system may reside in the outer membrane of E. coli K12 and may also function as a component of the receptor site for bacteriophage phi80, and that ferrichrome inhibition of the phage represents a competition for this common site.

Adsorption↗

ABC transporter FtsABCD of Streptococcus pyogenes mediates uptake of ferric ferrichrome.

BACKGROUND: The Streptococcus pyogenes or Group A Streptococcus (GAS) genome encodes three ABC transporters, namely, FtsABCD, MtsABC, and HtsABC, which share homology with iron transporters. MtsABC and HtsABC are believed to take up ferric (Fe3+) and manganese ions and heme, respectively, while the specificity of FtsABCD is unknown. RESULTS: Recombinant FtsB, the lipoprotein component of FtsABCD, was found to bind Fe3+ ferrichrome in a 1:1 stoichiometry. To investigate whether FtsABCD transports Fe3+ ferrichrome, GAS isogenic strains defective in lipoprotein gene ftsB and permease gene ftsC were generated, and the effects of the mutations on uptake of Fe3+ ferrichrome were examined using radioactive 55Fe3+ ferrichrome. FtsB was produced in the wild-type strain but not in the ftsB mutant, confirming the ftsB inactivation. While wild-type GAS took up 3.6 x 10(4) Fe3+ ferrichrome molecules per bacterium per min at room temperature, the ftsB and ftsC mutants did not have a detectable rate of Fe3+ ferrichrome uptake. The inactivation of ftsB or ftsC also decreased 55Fe3+ ferrichrome uptake by >90% under growth conditions in the case of limited uptake time. Complementation of the ftsB mutant with a plasmid carrying the ftsB gene restored FtsB production and 55Fe3+ ferrichrome association at higher levels compared with the parent strain. The inactivation of mtsA and htsA and Fe-restricted conditions enhanced the production of FtsB and Fe3+ ferrichrome uptake. CONCLUSION: The FtsB protein bound Fe3+ ferrichrome, and inactivation of ftsB or ftsC, but not htsA or mtsA, diminished Fe3+ ferrichrome uptake, indicating that FtsABCD, but not HtsABC and MtsABC, is the transporter that takes up Fe3+ ferrichrome in GAS. Fe acquisition systems are virulence factors in many bacterial pathogens and are attractive vaccine candidates. The elucidation of the FtsABCD specificity advances the understanding of Fe acquisition processes in GAS and may help evaluating the GAS Fe acquisition systems as vaccine candidates.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

The mechanism of ferrichrome transport through Arn1p and its metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Siderophores are low molecular weight compounds, synthesized and secreted by microorganisms, that specifically bind ferric iron with exceptionally high affinity. Microbes capture these compounds and take up the bound iron through specific, high-affinity systems. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can take up iron bound to siderophores through the transporters of the ARN family; however, the mechanism by which the siderophore-bound iron enters the cell via these transporters is not known. Here we describe how ferrichrome, a siderophore of the hydroxamate class, is taken up by Arn1p. Arn1p exhibits two surface binding sites for ferrichrome, one that is similar in affinity to the K(T) for uptake and one of a much higher affinity that is specific for the metallated form of ferrichrome. Ferrichrome may gain access to the higher-affinity site through endocytosis. Tracer studies using (14)C-labeled ferrichrome bound to either iron(III) or aluminum(III), a nonreducible ligand for ferrichrome, indicate that ferrichrome enters the cell as the intact metallosiderophore and accumulates in the cytosol. Both ferrichrome chelates were relatively stable within the cell, and metal-free ferrichrome did not accumulate, indicating a role for ferrichrome in intracellular iron storage. Iron stored as ferrichrome was readily mobilized to meet the metabolic needs of the cell.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

A receptor domain controls the intracellular sorting of the ferrichrome transporter, ARN1.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae transporter Arn1p takes up the ferric-siderophore ferrichrome, and extracellular ferrichrome dramatically influences the intracellular trafficking of Arn1p. In the absence of ferrichrome, Arn1p sorts directly to the endosomal compartment. At low concentrations of ferrichrome, Arn1p stably relocalizes to the plasma membrane, yet little to no uptake of ferrichrome occurs at these low concentrations. At higher concentrations of ferrichrome, Arn1p cycles between the plasma membrane and endosome. Arn1p contains two binding sites for ferrichrome: one site has an affinity similar to the K(T) for transport, but the second site has a much higher affinity. Here we report that this high-affinity binding site lies within a unique extracytosolic, carboxyl-terminal domain. Mutations within this domain lead to loss of ferrichrome binding and uptake activities and missorting of Arn1p, including a failure to relocalize to the plasma membrane in the presence of ferrichrome. Mutation of phenylalanine residues in the cytosolic tail of Arn1p also lead to missorting, but without defects in ferrichrome binding. We propose that the carboxyl terminus of Arn1p contains a receptor domain that controls the intracellular trafficking of the transporter.

Alanine↗

Iron transport in Escherichia coli: uptake and modification of ferrichrome.

During the transport of iron as ferrichrome complex into cells of Escherichia coli K-12, the ligand was modified and excreted into the medium. The rate of the formation of the modified product corresponded with the rate of iron transport. The modified product showed a decreased affinity for ferric iron and did not serve as an effective iron ionophore. After all of the ferrichrome had been converted, the modified product was taken up into the cell in an iron-free form. The uptake of ferrichrome and of the modified product depended on the transport system specified by the tonA and tonB genes. The modified product could be converted back into ferrichrome by mild acid or alkaline hydrolysis. One mole of acetate was released per mole of ferrichrome. It is proposed that one N-hydroxyl group of ferrichrome is acetylated to explain the low affinity for iron as the N-hydroxyl groups form the ligands for iron (III). A weak ester linkage by which the acetyl group is covalently bonded would account for the easy hydrolysis. The iron-free form of ferrichrome, deferri-ferrichrome, was also rapidly converted when incubated with cells with a functional transport system. It is therefore likely that iron is released from ferrichrome by reduction before modification takes place. The conversion of the ligand could be a mechanism by which cells rid themselves of a potentially deleterious ligand for iron in the cytoplasm. A possible role in ferrichrome transport is discussed.

Acetates↗

Specific in vivo labeling of cell surface-exposed protein loops: reactive cysteines in the predicted gating loop mark a ferrichrome binding site and a ligand-induced conformational change of the Escherichia coli FhuA protein.

The FhuA protein of Escherichia coli K-12 transports ferrichrome, the antibiotic albomycin, colicin M, and microcin 25 across the outer membrane and serves as a receptor for the phages T1, T5, phi80, and UC-1. FhuA is activated by the electrochemical potential of the cytoplasmic membrane, which probably opens a channel in FhuA. It is thought that the proteins TonB, ExbB, and ExbD function as a coupling device between the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane. Excision of 34 residues from FhuA, tentatively designated the gating loop, converts FhuA into a permanently open channel. FhuA contains two disulfide bridges, one in the gating loop and one close to the C-terminal end. Reduction of the disulfide bridges results in a low in vivo reaction of the cysteines in the gating loop and no reaction of the C-terminal cysteines with biotin-maleimide, as determined by streptavidin-beta-galactosidase bound to biotin. In this study we show that a cysteine residue introduced into the gating loop by replacement of Asp-336 displayed a rather high reactivity and was used to monitor structural changes in FhuA upon binding of ferrichrome. Flow cytometric analysis revealed fluorescence quenching by ferrichrome and albomycin of fluorescein-maleimide bound to FhuA. Ferrichrome did not inhibit Cys-336 labeling. In contrast, labeling of Cys-347, obtained by replacing Val-347 in the gating loop, was inhibited by ferrichrome, but ferrichrome quenching was negligible. It is concluded that binding of ferrichrome causes a conformational change of the gating loop and that Cys-347 is part of or close to the ferrichrome binding site. Fluorescence quenching was independent of the TonB activity. The newly introduced cysteines and the replacement of the existing cysteines by serine did not alter sensitivity of cells to the FhuA ligands tested (T5, phi80, T1, colicin M, and albomycin) and fully supported growth on ferrichrome as the sole iron source. Since cells of E. coli K-12 display no reactivity to thiol reagents, newly introduced cysteines can be used to determine surface-exposed regions of outer membrane proteins and to monitor conformational changes during their function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ligand-induced conformational change in the ferrichrome-iron receptor of Escherichia coli K-12.

Ferrichrome-iron is actively transported across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli by the TonB-dependent receptor FhuA. To obtain FhuA in a form suitable for secondary-structure analyses, a hexahistidine tag was inserted into a surface-located site and the recombinant protein was purified by metal chelate chromatography. Functional studies indicated that the presence of the hexahistidine tag did not interfere with FhuA localization or with ligand-binding activity. Ferrichrome protected lysine 67 but not lysine 5 of purified recombinant FhuA from trypsinolysis. Results from trypsin digestion were interpreted as a conformational change in FhuA which had occurred upon ferrichrome binding, thereby preventing access of trypsin to lysine 67. Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a predominance of beta-sheet structure for the purified protein. In the presence of ferrichrome, FhuA exhibited a secondary structure and a thermostability which were similar to FhuA without ligand. The addition of ferrichrome to purified FhuA reduced the ability of certain anti-FhuA monoclonal antibodies to bind to the receptor. All antibodies which could in this manner discriminate between FhuA and FhuA bound to ferrichrome had their determinants within a loop which is toward the N-terminus and which is exposed to the periplasm. These data indicate that the binding of ferrichrome induces a structural change that is propogated across the outer membrane and results in an altered conformation of a periplasmically exposed loop of FhuA. It is proposed that by such an alteration of FhuA conformation, TonB is triggered to energize the active transport of the bound ligand across the outer membrane.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Identification and substrate specificity of a ferrichrome-type siderophore transporter (Arn1p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Genes encoding transporters for heterologous siderophores have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, of which SIT1, TAF1, and ENB1 encode the transporters for ferrioxamines, ferric triacetylfusarinine C and ferric enterobactin, respectively. In the present communication we have shown that a further gene encoding a member of the major facilitator superfamily, ARN1 (YHL040c), is involved in the transport of a specific class of ferrichromes, possessing anhydromevalonyl residues linked to N(delta)-ornithine (ARN). Ferrirubin and ferrirhodin, which both are produced by filamentous fungi, are the most common representatives of this class of ferrichromes. A strain possessing a disruption in the ARN1 gene was unable to transport ferrirubin, ferrirhodin and also ferrichrome A, indicating that the encoded transporter recognizes anhydromevalonyl and the structurally-related methylglutaconyl side-chains surrounding the iron center. Ferrichromes possessing short-chain ornithine-N(delta)-acetyl residues such as ferrichrome, ferricrocin and ferrichrysin, were excluded by the Arn1 transporter. Substitution of the iron-surrounding N-acyl chains of ferrichromes by propionyl residues had no effect, whereas substitution by butyryl residues led to recognition by the Arn1 transporter. This would indicate that a chain length of four C-atoms is sufficient to allow binding. Using different asperchromes (B1, D1) we also found that a minimal number of two anhydromevalonyl residues is sufficient for recognition by Arn1p. Contrary to the iron-surrounding N-acyl residues, the peptide backbone of ferrichromes was not an important determinant for the Arn1 transporter.

Carrier Proteins↗

Molecular dynamics simulations of the bacterial outer membrane protein FhuA: a comparative study of the ferrichrome-free and bound states.

FhuA is one of the more complex members of the superfamily of bacterial outer membrane proteins. Its primary function is to provide a binding site on the outer membrane surface for siderophores, such as ferrichrome, and subsequently to facilitate their energy-dependent transport across the membrane, presumably powered by the TonB-ExbBD protein complex that resides in the cytoplasmic membrane. Crystal structures of FhuA with and without a bound ferrichrome molecule have provided some clues as to the initial stages of the siderophore transport mechanism. In the current study, we have employed 10-ns duration molecular dynamics simulations of FhuA and of the FhuA-ferrichrome complex, both embedded in a phospholipid bilayer, to probe the short timescale dynamics of this integral membrane protein, and to explore possible mechanistic implications of this dynamic behavior. Analysis of the dynamics of the protein suggests that the extracellular loops move as relatively rigid entities relative to the transmembrane beta-barrel. Comparison of the two simulations (with and without bound ferrichrome) revealed some ligand-induced changes in loop mobility. Specifically, loop L8 appears to be involved in a mechanism whereby the binding site is gated closed upon ligand binding. Analysis of the dynamics of water molecules within the core of the FhuA protein provided no evidence for a water-permeable protopore through which the ferrichrome might pass without a major perturbation of the FhuA protein. Overall, these simulations support the proposal that binding of ferrichrome initiates a signaling mechanism that ultimately leads to the TonB-mediated partial or total removal of the core domain from the beta-barrel, thus opening up a permeable pore. These simulations are among the longest that have been performed on a complex membrane protein. However, a simple analysis of sampling reveals that the description of protein motions is far from complete.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Identification of a Candida albicans ferrichrome transporter and its characterization by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae can accumulate iron through the uptake of siderophore-iron. Siderophore-iron uptake can occur through the reduction of the complex and the subsequent uptake of iron by the high affinity iron transporter Fet3p/Ftr1p. Alternatively, specific siderophore transporters can take up the siderophore-iron complex. The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans can also take up siderophore-iron. Here we identify a C. albicans siderophore transporter, CaArn1p, and characterize its activity. CaARN1 is transcriptionally regulated in response to iron. Through expression studies in S. cerevisiae strains lacking endogenous siderophore transporters, we demonstrate that CaArn1p specifically mediates the uptake of ferrichrome-iron. Iron-ferrichrome and gallium-ferrichrome, but not desferri-ferrichrome, could competitively inhibit the uptake of iron from ferrichrome. Uptake of siderophore-iron resulting from expression of CaARN1 under the control of the MET25-promoter in S. cerevisiae was independent of the iron status of the cells and of Aft1p, the iron-sensing transcription factor. These studies demonstrate that the expression of CaArn1p is both necessary and sufficient for the nonreductive uptake of ferrichrome-iron and suggests that the transporter may be the only required component of the siderophore uptake system that is regulated by iron and Aft1p.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The TonB-dependent ferrichrome receptor FcuA of Yersinia enterocolitica: evidence against a strict co-evolution of receptor structure and substrate specificity.

A Yersinia enterocolitica receptor mutant was isolated which is impaired in ferrichrome uptake. The receptor-encoding gene fcuA was cloned in Escherichia coli K-12. A fcuA mutant of Y. enterocolitica could be complemented by the cloned DNA fragment. The FcuA-encoding region was sequenced and an open reading frame encoding 758 amino acids including a signal sequence of 36 amino acids was found. FcuA shared 34.6% amino acid sequence homology with FatA, the anguibactin receptor of Vibrio anguillarum, but only 20.6% homology with FhuA, the ferrichrome receptor of E. coli. Since the structure of anguibactin differs strongly from that of ferrichrome there seems to be no co-evolution of receptor structure and substrate specificity. The ferrichrome receptors FcuA from Y. enterocolitica and FhuA from E. coli had slightly different substrate specificities. In contrast to FhuA from E. coli, FcuA from Y. enterocolitica was more stereoselective and failed to transport enantio ferrichrome. Three additional ferrichrome receptors were cloned from Pantoea agglomerans (formerly Erwinia herbicola), Salmonella paratyphi B and Salmonella typhimurium. Their substrate specificity was similar but not identical.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of ferrichrome biosynthesis in the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis: cloning of an ornithine-N5-oxygenase gene.

By using a non-enterobactin-producing enb-7 mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 as a biological indicator, a novel screening method was developed for identifying mutants of Ustilago maydis defective in the biosynthesis of the siderophores ferrichrome and ferrichrome A. Two classes of siderophore mutations, both recessive, were isolated after mutagenesis of haploid cells of the corn smut fungus. Class I mutants no longer produced ferrichrome while retaining the ability to produce ferrichrome A; class II mutants were defective in the production of both ferrichrome and ferrichrome A. Genetic and biochemical data suggest that class II mutants are defective in the ability to hydroxylate L-ornithine to delta-N-hydroxyornithine, the first step in the biosynthesis of these siderophores. A genomic library of wild-type U. maydis DNA was constructed in the cosmid transformation vector pCU3, which contains a dominant selectable marker for hygromycin B resistance. Two cosmids, pSid1 and pSid2, were identified in this library by their ability to complement class II siderophore auxotrophs. The production of both siderophores was concomitantly restored in the majority of the resultant transformants. Transforming DNA could be recovered from the fungal, cosmid-containing transformants by in vitro packaging with lambda bacteriophage extracts. Alternatively, the clones could be identified by a sib selection procedure. Cotransformation was found to occur at a high frequency in the fungus and was used to determine that a 2.5-kilobase HindIII-NruI fragment in pSid1 was responsible for complementing the class II siderophore biosynthetic mutation.

Basidiomycota↗

Iron uptake and molecular recognition in Pseudomonas putida: receptor mapping with ferrichrome and its biomimetic analogs.

The presence of an Fe(3+)-ferrichrome uptake system in fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. was demonstrated, and its structural requirements were mapped in Pseudomonas putida with the help of biomimetic ferrichrome analogs. Growth tests, 55Fe3+ uptake, and competition experiments demonstrated that the synthetic L-alanine derivative B5 inhibits the action of ferrichrome but does not facilitate Fe3+ transport, while the enantiomeric D-Ala derivative B6 fails to compete with ferrichrome. Contraction of the molecule's envelope by replacing L-Ala by glycine provided a synthetic carrier, B9, which fully simulates ferrichrome as a growth promoter. Sodium azide inhibited 55Fe3+ uptake of the Gly derivative B9, suggesting an active transport process. These data demonstrate the chiral discrimination of the ferrichrome receptor and its sensitivity to subtle structural changes. They further confirm that receptor binding is a necessary but not sufficient condition for Fe3+ uptake to occur and suggest that binding to the receptor and transport proteins might rely on different recognition patterns.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗