Role of siderophore in iron uptake in cowpea Rhizobium GN1 (peanut isolate): Possible involvement of iron repressible outer membrane proteins

Abstract Siderophore produced by cowpea Rhizobium GN1 (Peanut isolate) was shown to be involved in iron uptake by this organism. Siderophore enhanced iron uptake in iron-starved cells. SDS-PAGE analysis of the outer membrane proteins showed two iron repressible outer membrane proteins with approximate molecular mass of 80 kDa and 76 kDa. A siderophore non-producing mutant, which was unable to grow on a medium containing synthetic iron chelators unless and until iron was added exogenously in the medium, could use siderophore of the wild-type for iron uptake indicating that the receptor for Fe-siderophore complex was intact in the mutant.     

Composition of major outer membrane proteins of Vibrio vulnificus isolates: effect of different growth media and iron deficiency

The outer membrane proteins of Vibrio vulnificus including isolates from humans, seawater and an asari clam were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A major outer membrane protein with an apparent molecular weight of 48,000 (48K protein) was common to all the strains grown in 3% NaCl-nutrient broth; however this 48K protein was not produced in any of the strains grown in chemically defined medium. Other major outer membrane proteins with molecular weights ranging from 33,000 to 40,000 varied in number, relative amount and molecular weight depending on the strain. One to three new outer membrane proteins with molecular weights ranging from 74,000 to 85,000 were produced in the cells grown in iron-deficient medium. The 48K protein and one or two major proteins with molecular weights ranging from 35,000 to 37,000 in the cells grown in 3% NaCl-nutrient broth were not solubilized by 2% SDS at 60 C for 30 min and were resistant to trypsin, indicating that they are porins. On the other hand, in cells grown in chemically defined medium, one or two major outer membrane proteins with molecular weights ranging from 33,000 to 40,000 might be porins.     

Siderophore Cross-Utilization Amongst Rhizospheric Bacteria and the Role of Their Differential Affinities for Fe3+ on Growth Stimulation Under Iron-Limited Conditions

The majority of bacteria isolated from rhizospheres of Arachis hypogea (Groundnut) and Vigna radiata (Mung bean) predominantly produced catechol-type siderophores except for a few fluorescent pseudomonads that produced hydroxamates in addition to catecholates. The rhizospheric isolates differed in their ability to cross-utilize siderophores produced by other rhizospheric isolates (heterologous); some were highly proficient at utilizing heterologous siderophores, while others were poor cross-utilizers. Isolate G9, which utilized hydroxamate as well as catecholate siderophores, was found to be an efficient siderophore cross-utilizer, while isolates G2 and G6 were poor-utilizers of catecholate and non-utilizers of hydroxamate siderophores. Growth stimulation of two isolates G9 and G6 was seen when grown in the presence of externally supplied heterologous siderophores, which they cross-utilized. The iron-regulated outer membrane protein (IROMP) profiles differed for the most cross-utilizer and the least cross-utilizer strains, but in both the cases no new outer membrane proteins (OMP) were induced in response to the exogenous siderophores supplied. The growth of the organisms in the presence of heterologous siderophores that they failed to cross-utilize led to growth inhibition in the case of isolate G9. This appears to be due to a lower affinity of the siderophore of G9 as compared to the exogenously supplied G6 siderophore. A simple method was devised to measure relative affinities of respective siderophores for iron based on CAS solution decolorization by the siderophore preparations. The effect on the growth of the differential affinities of the siderophores for iron and the interactions of the organisms through cross-utilization is also discussed.     

The identification of outer membrane proteins and flagella of Campylobacter jejuni

The outer membrane proteins of five clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were identified by 125I-surface labelling and SDS-PAGE of outer membrane preparations. All isolates expressed a major outer membrane protein of variable molecular weight (43 000-46 000: 43K-46K). Several constant surface proteins were also identified including a 27K protein which was surface-exposed and acid-extractable but was not present in the outer membrane preparations. Isolated flagella comprised a major 62K protein and a minor 87K protein. Both proteins were absent in an aflagellate variant. The 62K protein was immunoblotted and immunoprecipitated by rabbit anti-flagella antisera.     

Derepression of the Azotobacter vinelandii siderophore system, using iron-containing minerals to limit iron repletion

Azotobacter vinelandii solubilized iron from certain minerals using only dihydroxybenzoic acid, which appeared to be produced constitutively. Solubilization of iron from other minerals required dihydroxybenzoic acid and the siderophore N,N'-bis-(2,3- dihydroxybenzoyl )-L-lysine ( azotochelin ) or these chelators plus the yellow-green fluorescent siderophore azotobactin . In addition to this sequential production of siderophores, cells also demonstrated partial to hyperproduction relative to the iron-limited control. The iron sources which caused partial derepression of the siderophores caused derepression of all the high-molecular-weight iron-repressible outer membrane proteins except a 77,000-molecular-weight protein, which appeared to be coordinated with azotobactin production. Increased siderophore production correlated with increased production of outer membrane proteins with molecular weights of 93,000, 85,000, and 77,000, but an 81,000-molecular-weight iron-repressible protein appeared at a constant level despite the degree of derepression. When iron was readily available, it appeared to complex with a 60,000-molecular-weight protein believed to form a surface layer on the A. vinelandii cell.     

Expression of hydroxamate and phenolate siderophores by Shigella flexneri.

Shigella flexneri strains were assayed for the ability to synthesize and utilize phenolate and hydroxamate siderophores. The hydroxamate aerobactin was synthesized by all isolates tested, whereas phenolates were only rarely produced. Expression of aerobactin was accompanied by production of a single iron-regulated outer membrane protein (Mr = 74,000). This protein was not produced by a mutant defective in aerobactin utilization and may serve as the aerobactin receptor. Phenolate (enterobactin)-producing strains synthesized three additional outer membrane proteins (Mr = 74,000, 81,000, and 83,000) in response to iron starvation. These proteins are the same apparent size as those produced by Escherichia coli K-12 strains. Ent sequences are apparently present in strains which do not synthesize this compound. Although normally silent, ent genes can be activated in Ent- strains to produce Ent+ variants. These laboratory variants are phenotypically indistinguishable from clinical Ent+ isolates.     

Expression of high affinity iron uptake systems by clinical isolates of Klebsiella

Seventeen isolates of Klebsiella aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, K. oxytocum and K. edwardsii were examined for their ability to express iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) and high affinity iron-chelating agents (siderophores). In response to iron deprivation, all strains induced at least 4 IROMPs in the approximate M_r range 70 000–85 000 and the phenolate siderophore enterobactin. Six strains also produced the hydroxamate siderophore aerobactin. The Klebsiella enterobactin receptor was identified as an 81 000 M_r iron-repressible outer membrane (OM) protein which appears to be highly conserved and shows considerable antigenic homology with that of Escherichia coli.     

溶藻弧菌铁载体合成及外膜蛋白表达的研究

初步研究了海洋动物病原菌溶藻弧菌的铁摄取机制。溶藻弧菌能够在高浓度铁螯合剂2-2二联吡啶的培养基中存活。在限铁环境中,溶藻弧菌生长受到抑制,补加铁可以消除这种抑制作用。通过铁载体定量检测,发现分离于发病鱼体的溶藻弧菌MVP01产铁载体量大于分离于海水的菌株No·1·1587。互补实验证明溶藻弧菌的铁载体粗提物能够被铁载体合成缺陷的大肠杆菌突变株AN93利用。在铁限制培养环境中,溶藻弧菌合成了约80kD铁调控外膜蛋白。铁摄取系统在溶藻弧菌的生存和致病性方面,都有重要的作用。     

Siderophore production by Salmonella species isolated from different sources

A total of 230 Salmonella strains were screened for enterobactin and aerobactin production, sensitivity to bacteriocins and resistance to antibiotics. All the isolates produced the phenolate siderophore enterobactin. Amongst these, 74 strains, most belonging to S. enteritidis, were sensitive to colicin B. Only 26 isolates, all belonging to S. wien, produced an additional iron chelator, i.e. the siderophore aerobactin, and 22 out of these were sensitive to cloacin DF13. Analysis of iron repressible outer membrane proteins and plasmid profiles in S. wien strains showed that the expression of a 74-kDa iron-repressible outer membrane protein and the presence of large plasmids were associated with multiple antibiotic resistance, aerobactin production and sensitivity to cloacin DF13. The incidence of aerobactin-producing strains among S. wien isolates was higher during years 1974-1985; the epidemiological implications of these results are discussed.     

Plasmids mediating iron uptake in Vibrio anguillarum strains isolated from turbot in Spain

Vibrio strains isolated from diseased turbot in an experimental fish farm on the Atlantic coast of northwest Spain were identified as Vibrio anguillarum. The isolates shared many biochemical characteristics with V. anguillarum strains obtained from other sources, and harboured a plasmid species that showed extensive homology with plasmid pJM1, carried by V. anguillarum strain 775 isolated from an epizootic in North America. Restriction endonuclease analysis showed that the two plasmids were very similar albeit not identical. The presence of the plasmid in the turbot isolates was associated with their ability to cause disease in fish. Plasmid-carrying bacteria could also grow under conditions of iron limitation. Two outer membrane proteins, of 86 and 79 kDal, were induced, and a similar siderophore activity to that produced by V. anguillarum 775 was also detected under these conditions. The 86 kDal outer membrane protein cross-reacted immunologically with antiserum raised against the outer membrane protein OM2 produced by strain 775. Nonvirulent plasmidless derivatives were unable to grow under iron-limiting conditions, and were also unable to produce either siderophore activity or the 86 kDal outer membrane protein, suggesting the plasmid-mediated nature of these components.     

Iron-regulated outer membrane proteins and non-siderophore-mediated iron acquisition by Paracoccus denitrificans

Abstract Deprivation of Paracoccus denitrificans of iron in sodium molybdate-containing medium caused a slower rate of growth and lower final cell yield, in contrast to our previous studies in non-sodium molybdate-containing medium, where iron deprivation had little effect on growth rate. Five high M _r outer membrane proteins and catechol production were induced in iron-deprived cultures. The fifth protein, M _r 72 000, was produced later than the others. Growth of iron-deprived cells in medium containing 20 μM ferric citrate repressed siderophore and iron deprivation-induced protein production, and led to production of an M _r 23 000 outer membrane protein (half maximum production after 5 h). Synthesis of the M _r 23 000 and high M _r proteins appeared to be mutally exclusive, and to be regulated by the cell's iron status. Cells inoculated into medium containing 20 μM ferric citrate took up 92% of the iron within 1 h, suggesting the occurrence of a nonsiderophore mediated, 'low affinity' iron uptake pathway.     

Identification of the vibriobactin receptor of Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae produces the novel phenolate siderophore vibriobactin and several outer membrane proteins in response to iron starvation. To determine whether any of these iron-regulated outer membrane proteins serves as the receptor for vibriobactin, the classical V. cholerae strain 0395 was mutagenized by using TnphoA, and iron-regulated fusions were analyzed for vibriobactin transport. One mutant, MBG14, was unable to bind or utilize exogenous vibriobactin and did not grow in low-iron medium. However, synthesis of the siderophore and transport of other iron complexes, including ferrichrome, hemin, and ferric citrate, were unaffected in MBG14. Analysis of membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the loss from the mutant of a 74-kDa iron-regulated outer membrane protein present in the parental strain when grown in iron-limiting conditions. This protein partitioned into the detergent phase during Triton X-114 extraction, suggesting that it is a hydrophobic membrane protein. DNA sequences encoding the gene into which TnphoA had inserted, designated viuA (vibriobactin uptake), restored the wild-type phenotype to the mutant; the complemented mutant expressed the 74-kDa outer membrane protein under iron-limiting conditions and possessed normal vibriobactin binding and uptake. These data indicate that the 74-kDa outer membrane protein of V. cholerae serves as the vibriobactin receptor.     

Distribution of plasmid- and chromosome-mediated iron uptake systems in Vibrio anguillarum strains of different origins.

We investigated the incidence of plasmid-mediated and chromosome-mediated iron uptake systems in strains of Vibrio anguillarum that belong to serotypes O1 and O2 and were isolated from different fish species and in different geographic areas. All of the strains gave positive reactions in CAS agar medium and in the Arnow test, which indicated that catechol types of siderophores were produced. The majority of V. anguillarum serotype O1 strains harbored a 65-kb plasmid similar to plasmid pJM1 from strain 775, which encodes the siderophore anguibactin and its outer membrane receptor, protein OM2. All of the isolates harboring this plasmid promoted the growth of an anguibactin-deficient receptor-proficient mutant derived from strain 775, but none of these isolates promoted the growth of mutants lacking receptor OM2. Furthermore, under iron-limiting conditions all of these strains induced outer membrane proteins that were identical in size to protein OM2 of strain 775. In contrast, none of the serotype O2 strains contained a high-molecular-weight plasmid, but all of them induced the growth of mutants defective in the anguibactin-mediated system regardless of the presence or absence of receptor OM2. The serotype O2 strains, but not the plasmid-bearing serotype O1 strains, also induced the growth of Salmonella typhimurium enb-1 which utilizes only enterobactin as a siderophore.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Distribution of plasmid- and chromosome-mediated iron uptake systems in Vibrio anguillarum strains of different origins

We investigated the incidence of plasmid-mediated and chromosome-mediated iron uptake systems in strains of Vibrio anguillarum that belong to serotypes O1 and O2 and were isolated from different fish species and in different geographic areas. All of the strains gave positive reactions in CAS agar medium and in the Arnow test, which indicated that catechol types of siderophores were produced. The majority of V. anguillarum serotype O1 strains harbored a 65-kb plasmid similar to plasmid pJM1 from strain 775, which encodes the siderophore anguibactin and its outer membrane receptor, protein OM2. All of the isolates harboring this plasmid promoted the growth of an anguibactin-deficient receptor-proficient mutant derived from strain 775, but none of these isolates promoted the growth of mutants lacking receptor OM2. Furthermore, under iron-limiting conditions all of these strains induced outer membrane proteins that were identical in size to protein OM2 of strain 775. In contrast, none of the serotype O2 strains contained a high-molecular-weight plasmid, but all of them induced the growth of mutants defective in the anguibactin-mediated system regardless of the presence or absence of receptor OM2. The serotype O2 strains, but not the plasmid-bearing serotype O1 strains, also induced the growth of Salmonella typhimurium enb-1 which utilizes only enterobactin as a siderophore.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of iron on growth and extracellular products of Acinetobacter baumannii

Iron is an important nutrient required by bacteria for optimal growth. Acquisition of iron from the host where iron is restricted is an important mediator of bacterial pathogenesis. In iron deplete chemically defined medium (CDM-Fe) growth of Acinetobacter baumannii was restricted as compared to iron replete medium (CDM + Fe). Bacteria developed four high molecular weight outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of 88, 84, 80 and 77 kDa in CDM-Fe medium which were absent in CDM + Fe medium, and are known iron regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs). A. baumannii secreted siderophores extracellularly into the medium which act as iron chelators which had been demonstrated in the supernatants of CDM-Fe media. The siderophore was of catechol type. This shows that A. baumannii under iron restricted conditions express IROMPs along with production of catechol type siderophore in order to acquire iron from the external milieu.     

Iron transport systems of Serratia marcescens.

Serratia marcescens W225 expresses an unconventional iron(III) transport system. Uptake of Fe3+ occurs in the absence of an iron(III)-solubilizing siderophore, of an outer membrane receptor protein, and of the TonB and ExbBD proteins involved in outer membrane transport. The three SfuABC proteins found to catalyze iron(III) transport exhibit the typical features of periplasmic binding-protein-dependent systems for transport across the cytoplasmic membrane. In support of these conclusions, the periplasmic SfuA protein bound iron chloride and iron citrate but not ferrichrome, as shown by protection experiments against degradation by added V8 protease. The cloned sfuABC genes conferred upon an Escherichia coli aroB mutant unable to synthesize its own enterochelin siderophore the ability to grow under iron-limiting conditions (in the presence of 0.2 mM 2.2'-dipyridyl). Under extreme iron deficiency (0.4 mM 2.2'-dipyridyl), however, the entry rate of iron across the outer membrane was no longer sufficient for growth. Citrate had to be added in order for iron(III) to be translocated as an iron citrate complex in a FecA- and TonB-dependent manner through the outer membrane and via SfuABC across the cytoplasmic membrane. FecA- and TonB-dependent iron transport across the outer membrane could be clearly correlated with a very low concentration of iron in the medium. Expression of the sfuABC genes in E. coli was controlled by the Fur iron repressor gene. S. marcescens W225 was able to synthesize enterochelin and take up iron(III) enterochelin. It contained an iron(III) aerobactin transport system but lacked aerobactin synthesis. This strain was able to utilize the hydroxamate siderophores ferrichrome, coprogen, ferrioxamine B, rhodotorulic acid, and schizokinen as sole iron sources and grew on iron citrate as well. In contrast to E. coli K-12, S. marcescens could utilize heme. DNA fragments of the E. coli fhuA, iut, exbB, and fur genes hybridized with chromosomal S. marcescens DNA fragments, whereas no hybridization was obtained between S. marcescens chromosomal DNA and E. coli fecA, fhuE, and tonB gene fragments. The presence of multiple iron transport systems was also indicated by the increased synthesis of at least five outer membrane proteins (in the molecular weight range of 72,000 to 87,000) after growth in low-iron media. Serratia liquefaciens and Serratia ficaria produced aerobactin, showing that this siderophore also occurs in the genus Serratia.     

Characterization of a high-affinity iron transport system in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Analysis of a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii showed that this bacterium was able to grow under iron-limiting conditions, using chemically defined growth media containing different iron chelators such as human transferrin, ethylenediaminedi-(o-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and 2,2'-bipyridyl. This iron uptake-proficient phenotype was due to the synthesis and secretion of a catechol-type siderophore compound. Utilization bioassays using the Salmonella typhimurium iron uptake mutants enb-1 and enb-7 proved that this siderophore is different from enterobactin. This catechol siderophore was partially purified from culture supernatants by adsorption chromatography using an XAD-7 resin. The purified component exhibited a chromatographic behavior and a UV-visible light absorption spectrum different from those of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and other bacterial catechol siderophores. Furthermore, the siderophore activity of this extracellular catechol was confirmed by its ability to stimulate energy-dependent uptake of 55Fe(III) as well as to promote the growth of A. baumannii bacterial cells under iron-deficient conditions imposed by 60 microM human transferrin. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed the presence of iron-regulated proteins in both inner and outer membranes of this clinical isolate of A. baumannii. Some of these membrane proteins may be involved in the recognition and internalization of the iron-siderophore complexes.     

Streptococcus iniae: serological differences,presence of capsule and resistance to immune serum killing

The biochemical profiles, presence of capsule, outer membrane protein profiles and serological interactions of isolates of Streptococcus iniae obtained from different geographical and fish host origins were examined. The isolates had very similar biochemical profiles using API 20 Strep but varied as to whether they were arginine dihydrolase-negative, -positive or -intermediate (AD-ve, AD+ve, AD+/-ve, respectively). Representatives of each AD type were compared in subsequent experiments. All types possessed a polysaccharide capsule. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of outer membrane proteins or whole cells revealed no difference in banding patterns between isolates. All isolates were resistant to trout normal and specific immune serum and grew well in the presence of added fresh normal serum. Serological analyses of the isolates revealed antigenic differences. Trout antiserum against the AD+ve isolate did not agglutinate the AD-ve or AD+/-ve isolates, while antisera against the latter 2 types showed low agglutinating activity with all 3 isolates. When whole live cells of AD-ve and AD+ve isolates were dot-blotted, antiserum to the AD+ve isolate did not stain the AD-ve isolate, but antiserum to the AD-ve isolate stained both AD types. However, if the cells were pre-treated with Proteinase K (to remove surface-exposed protein antigens), the AD+ve isolate was stained only by its homologous antiserum. These results suggest that while certain protein antigens of the different AD type strains are immunologically cross-reactive, the capsular antigens appear to be AD type-specific. Furthermore, the results suggest that the cross-reactive antigens on the AD-ve isolate are effectively hidden by the strain-specific capsule, while they are partially exposed on the AD+ve isolate.     

Effect of iron on siderophore production and on outer membrane proteins ofRhizobium leguminosarum IARI 102

Rhizobium leguminosarum IARI 102 produced a phenolate type siderophore (a derivative of 2,3-DHBA) under iron-limited conditions. Addition of Fe³⁺ to the culture medium increased the growth yield significantly, but repressed the production of the iron-chelating compound. Iron level of culture medium also had a significant role in the composition of outer membrane proteins ofR. leguminosarum IARI 102. Maximum iron uptake was observed only in the presence of its own siderophore.     

A genetic locus involved in iron utilization unique to some Campylobacter strains.

Two genes involved in iron utilization in Campylobacter coli VC167 T1 have been characterized. The cfrA gene encodes a protein with a predicted Mr of 77,653 which, after processing of the leader sequence, has a predicted Mr of 75,635. This protein has significant sequence identity to siderophore receptors of several bacteria, and site-specific mutants defective in cfrA do not synthesize one of two major iron-repressible outer membrane proteins. An adjacent gene encodes a TonB-like protein; a mutant in this gene lost the ability to utilize hemin, ferrichrome, and enterochelin as iron sources. The cfrA and tonB genes of VC167 T1 hybridized to all strains of C. coli and most strains of C. jejuni examined but did not hybridize to several other strains of C. jejuni, suggesting that the thermophilic campylobacters can be separated into two categories based on the presence of these two iron utilization genes.