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Siderophore uptake in bacteria and the battle for iron with the host; a bird’s eye view

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Abstract

Siderophores are biosynthetically produced and secreted by many bacteria, yeasts, fungi and plants, to scavenge for ferric iron (Fe3+). They are selective iron-chelators that have an extremely high affinity for binding this trivalent metal ion. The ferric ion is poorly soluble but it is the form of iron that is predominantly found in oxygenated environments. Siderophore uptake in bacteria has been extensively studied and over the last decade, detailed structural information for many of the proteins that are involved in their transport has become available. Specifically, numerous crystal structures for outer membrane siderophore transporters, as well as for soluble periplasmic siderophore-binding proteins, have been reported. Moreover, unique siderophore-binding proteins have recently been serendipitously discovered in humans, and the structures of some of their siderophore-complexes have been characterized. The binding pockets for different ferric-siderophores in these proteins have been described in great molecular detail. In addition to highlighting this structural information, in this review paper we will also briefly discuss the relevant chemical properties of iron, and provide a perspective on our current understanding of the human and bacterial iron uptake pathways. Potential clinical uses of siderophores will also be discussed. The emerging overall picture is that iron metabolism plays an extremely important role during bacterial infections. Because levels of free ferric iron in biological systems are always extremely low, there is serious competition for iron and for ferric-siderophores between pathogenic bacteria and the human or animal host.

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Acknowledgments

Research in the author’s laboratory has been supported by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. HJV is the recipient of a Scientist award from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Byron C. Chu, Alicia Garcia-Herrero, Ted H. Johanson, Karla D. Krewulak, Cheryl K. Lau, R. Sean Peacock, Zoya Slavinskaya & Hans J. Vogel

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  1. Byron C. Chu
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  2. Alicia Garcia-Herrero
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  3. Ted H. Johanson
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  4. Karla D. Krewulak
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  5. Cheryl K. Lau
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  6. R. Sean Peacock
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  7. Zoya Slavinskaya
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  8. Hans J. Vogel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans J. Vogel.

Additional information

This article is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Dick van der Helm who passed away in April this year. Dick committed much of his research career to structural studies of siderophores and the bacterial proteins that mediate their transport. His insights and encouragement will be missed.

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Chu, B.C., Garcia-Herrero, A., Johanson, T.H. et al. Siderophore uptake in bacteria and the battle for iron with the host; a bird’s eye view. Biometals 23, 601–611 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-010-9361-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-010-9361-x

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