Siderophores reduction

As mentioned previously, siderophores must selectively bind iron tightly in order to solubilize the metal ion and prevent hydrolysis, as well as effectively compete with other chelators in the system. The following discussion will address in more detail the effect of siderophore structure on the thermodynamics of iron binding, as well as different methods for measuring and comparing iron-siderophore complex stability. The redox potentials of the ferri-siderophore complexes will also be addressed, as ferri-siderophore reduction may be important in the iron uptake process in biological systems. 

In the rhizosphere, microorganisms utilize either organic acids or phytosiderophores to transport iron or produce their own low-molecular-weight metal chelators, called siderophores. There are a wide variety of siderophores in nature and some of them have now been identified and chemically purified (54). Pre.sently, three general mechanisms are recognized for utilization of these compounds by microorganisms. These include a shuttle mechanism in which chelators deliver iron to a reductase on the cell surface, direct uptake of metallated siderophores with destructive hydrolysis of the chelator inside the cell, and direct uptake followed by reductive removal of iron and resecretion of the chelator (for reviews, see Refs. 29 and 54). 

Hydroxamic acids constitute an important class of siderophores, which play a major role in iron solubilization and transport. Some of them are important as therapeutic agents. The Michael addition of nitroacetyl proline esters to allyl acrylate followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed intramolecular allyl transfer and subsequent reduction of the nitro group yields a novel class of cyclic hydroxamic acids related to pyroglutamic acid (Scheme 5.9).85... 

There is some evidence that the iron-sulfur protein, FhuF, participates in the mobilization of iron from hydroxamate siderophores in E. coli (Muller et ah, 1998 Hantke, K. unpublished observations). However, a reductase activity of FhuF has not been demonstrated. Many siderophore-iron reductases have been shown to be active in vitro and some have been purified. The characterization of these reductases has revealed them to be flavin reductases which obtain the electrons for flavin reduction from NAD(P)H, and whose main functions are in areas other than reduction of ferric iron (e.g. flavin reductase Fre, sulfite reductase). To date, no specialized siderophore-iron reductases have been identified. It has been suggested that the reduced flavins from flavin oxidoreductases are the electron donors for ferric iron reduction (Fontecave et ah, 1994). Recently it has been shown, after a fruitless search for a reducing enzyme, that reduction of Co3+ in cobalamin is achieved by reduced flavin. Also in this case it was suggested that cobalamins and corrinoids are reduced in vivo by flavins which may be generated by the flavin... 

Transferrin iron uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis has clearly appeared fairly late in evolution, when we consider that the bilobal iron-binding protein is found only as far back as insects . As we have seen in the preceding chapters, iron-uptake mechanisms involving the synthesis of more or less specific siderophores have evolved together with strategies implying the solubilization of insoluble ferric iron by the combined effects of pH and reduction, and even the development of receptor proteins capable of taking up transferrin-, lactoferrin- or haem-bound iron from specific hosts. 

Using linear regression, it is possible to estimate the protonation constants of the Fe(II) complexes of siderophore complexes where the redox potentials have been measured over a range of pH values (59). This also explains the variation in reversibility of reduction as the pH changes, as the stability of the ferro-siderophore complex is much lower than the ferric complex, and the increased lability of ligand exchange and increased binding site competition from H+ may result in dissociation of the complex before the iron center can be reoxidized. 

Another factor that can possibly affect the redox potential in biological systems is the presence of secondary chelating agents that can participate in coupled equilibria (3). When other chelators are present, coupled equilibria involving iron-siderophore redox occur and a secondary ligand will cause the siderophore complex effective redox potential to shift. The decrease in stability of the iron-siderophore complex upon reduction results in a more facile release of the iron. Upon release, the iron(II) is available for complexation by the secondary ligand, which results in a corresponding shift in the redox equilibrium toward production of iron(II). In cases where iron(II) is stabilized by the secondary chelators, there is a shift in the redox potential to more positive values, as shown in Eqs. (42)—(45). 

Another possible route for reduction of the iron center is photoreduction. This has been studied in a variety of marine siderophore systems, such as aquachelin, marinobactin, and aerobactin (2), where it was demonstrated that photolytic reduction was due to a ligand-to-metal charge transfer band of the Fe(III)-siderophore complex, eventually resulting in reduction ofiron(III) and cleavage of the siderophore (31,154,155). This suggests a possible role for iron reduction in iron release (71,155). 

In some cases, exudates enable the plankton to control their environment. For example, diatoms release compounds, called oxyUpins, that induce natural abortions and growth reduction in the zooplankton that are their primary predators. Other exudates complex with trace metals, serving to reduce the bioavailability of toxics, such as copper, and enhance the bioavailability of micronutrients, such as iron. Examples of iron-binding extracellular DOM are the siderophores (Figure 5.11). 

Hersman LE, Huang A, Maurice PA, Forsythe JH (2000) Siderophore Production and Iron Reduction by Pseudomonas mendocina in Response to Iron Deprivation. Geomicrobiology J 17 261... 

Kamnev AA (1998) Reductive Solubilization of Fe(lII) by Certain Products of Plant and Microbial Metabolism as a Possible Alternative to Siderophore Secretion. Dokl Biophys 358-360, 48 (translation from Dokl Akad Nauk 359 691). 

The marine siderophore aquachelin has two hydroxamate and one —CH(0 )C02 chelating units. Photolysis of its ironQII) complex results in dechelation of the hydroxycarboxylate moiety and reduction to iron(II). ... 

W(VI) centers. At room temperature and under mild conditions, iron release from the complexes is observed upon reduction of the Fe(III) centers. This release is controlled by the ionic strength of the medium, the nature and concentration of the anions present in the supporting electrolyte, and by the pH of the solution. This behavior parallels those described for most siderophores that depend on the same parameters. 

A wide variety of microorganisms synthesize powerful iron(III) chelators (siderophores). Their reduction (ferroxamine B, ferrichrome and ferrichrome A) has been studied.172... 

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