Microbial iron management mechanisms in extremely acidic environments: comparative genomics evidence for diversity and versatility.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Iron is an essential nutrient but can be toxic at high intracellular concentrations and organisms have evolved tightly regulated mechanisms for iron uptake and homeostasis. Information on iron management mechanisms is available for organisms living at circumneutral pH. However, very little is known about how acidophilic bacteria, especially those used for industrial copper bioleaching, cope with environmental iron loads that can be 1018 times the concentration found in pH neutral environments. This study was motivated by the need to fill this lacuna in knowledge. An understanding of how microorganisms thrive in acidic ecosystems with high iron loads requires a comprehensive investigation of the strategies to acquire iron and to coordinate this acquisition with utilizatio

SUBMITTER: Osorio H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2631029 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature