• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.136-146
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• 2011

This study provides first-hand proteomic data on the survival strategy of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 when subjected to long-term iron-starvation conditions. 2D-gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF/MS analysis of iron-deficient Anabaena revealed significant and reproducible alterations in ten proteins, of which six are associated with photosynthesis and respiration, three with the antioxidative defense system, and the last, hypothetical protein all1861, conceivably connected with iron homeostasis. Iron-starved Anabaena registered a reduction in growth, photosynthetic pigments, PSI, PSII, whole-chain electron transport, carbon and nitrogen fixation, and ATP and NADPH content. The kinetics of hypothetical protein all1861 expression, with no change in expression until day 3, maximum expression on the $7^{th}$ day, and a decline in expression from the $15^{th}$ day onward, coupled with in silico analysis, suggested its role in iron sequestration and homeostasis. Interestingly, the up-regulated FBP-aldolase, Mn/Fe-SOD, and all1861 all appear to assist the survival of Anabeana subjected to iron-starvation conditions. Furthermore, the $N_2$-fixation capabilities of the iron-starved Anabaena encourage us to recommend its application as a biofertilizer, particularly in iron-limited paddy soils.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2005

Many reports have stated that some of the pathogenic bacteria can obtain iron from ferroproteins, such as cytochrome C, ferritin, hemin, hemoglobin, and myoglobin. These reports prompted us to determine if an opportunistic pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, can utilize ferroproteins to circumvent the iron-regulatory effect of transferrin. The following assays were carried out to measure in vitro growth stimulation by the ferroproteins: as an initial step, C. albicans was cultured in iron-free (pretreated with apotransferrin for 24h) culture medium. Once Candida albicans yeast cell growth reached stasis from iron starvation, individual ferroproteins were added to the culture media. Results showed that hemin, hemoglobin, and myoglobin supported a partial growth recovery. Additional studies with haptoglobin, a serum protein that interacts with the globin moiety of certain ferroproteins, established that C. albicans could obtain iron from the haptoglobin-ferroprotein complexes. These data indicate that the heme part of the ferroproteins is the source of iron. This implies that heme oxygenase, CaHMX1 might be involved in bringing about dissociation of heme-containing protein for iron-acquisition. In addition, anticandidal activity of transferrin takes place not only by the process of iron regulation, but also by direct interaction with the yeast cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2006

Ability of iron acquisition of pathogenic microorganisms functions as a virulence factor. Candida albicans, a fungal pathogen that requires iron for growth, is susceptible to growth retardation by high-affinity iron binding proteins such as transferrin. Recently, we reported that C. albicans could utilize the heme as a part of heme-containing proteins dissociated by heme oxygenase, CaHMX1. In search of another pathway that C. albicans can use to bypass the growth regulation produced by iron limitation, this present study examined utilization of non-candidal siderophores such as Desferal and rhodotorulic acid (RA) for acquisition of inorganic iron by the fungus. C. albicans secreting no siderophores was cultured in iron-free (pretreated with apotransferrin for 24 h) (culture medium). Once growth of the yeast reached stasis from iron starvation, a siderophore was added to the culture media. Results showed that cultures containing apotransferrin within a dialysis membrane recovered growth to the level of untreated controls, whereas C. albicans yeast cells in direct contact with soluble iron-free (apo) transferrin recovered growth only partially. When static growth from iron limitation was reached, the addition of siderophore-apotransferrin complex to culture medium also permitted the yeast to recover growth from apotransferrin growth regulation. All the data show that C. albicans can utilize the non-candidal siderophores for iron acquisition under transferrin regulation as can pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1110-1119
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• 2022

Fe-S clusters are versatile and essential cofactors that participate in multiple and fundamental biological processes. In Escherichia coli, the biogenesis of these cofactors requires either the housekeeping Isc pathway, or the stress-induced Suf pathway which plays a general role under conditions of oxidative stress or iron limitation. In the present work, the Fe-S cluster assembly Isc and Suf systems of acidophilic Bacteria and Archaea, which thrive in highly oxidative environments, were studied. This analysis revealed that acidophilic microorganisms have a complete set of genes encoding for a single system (either Suf or Isc). In acidophilic Proteobacteria and Nitrospirae, a complete set of isc genes (iscRSUAX-hscBA-fdx), but not genes coding for the Suf system, was detected. The activity of the Isc system was studied in Leptospirillum sp. CF-1 (Nitrospirae). RT-PCR experiments showed that eight candidate genes were co-transcribed and conform the isc operon in this strain. Additionally, RT-qPCR assays showed that the expression of the iscS gene was significantly up-regulated in cells exposed to oxidative stress imposed by 260 mM Fe₂(SO₄)₃ for 1 h or iron starvation for 3 h. The activity of cysteine desulfurase (IscS) in CF-1 cell extracts was also upregulated under such conditions. Thus, the Isc system from Leptospirillum sp. CF-1 seems to play an active role in stressful environments. These results contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and role of Fe-S cluster protein biogenesis systems in organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2015

Pyoverdines (PVDs) are organic compounds produced by the fluorescent Pseudomonads under iron starvation conditions. Among the isolated rhizosphere pseudomonads strains, P. putida KNUK9 showed the highest production of PVDs and its production reached to 62.81% siderophores units. DNA isolation, ligation, PCR amplification, and transformation using E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$ cells were carried out for preparing the strong pyoverdine producer strains. We detected seven genes playing the fundamental roles in the pyoverdine metabolism in Pseudomonads. According to data and analysis obtained from the study, we deduced that the strain P. putida KNUK9 contains the essential genes required for pyoverdine biosynthesis.