Hydroxamate production as a high affinity iron acquisition mechanism in Paracoccidioides spp.

ABSTRACT: Iron is a micronutrient required by almost all living organisms, including fungi. Although this metal is abundant, its bioavailability is low either in aerobic environments or within mammalian hosts. As a consequence, pathogenic microorganisms evolved high affinity iron acquisition mechanisms which include the production and uptake of siderophores. Here we investigated the utilization of these molecules by species of the Paracoccidioides genus, the causative agents of a systemic mycosis. It was demonstrated that iron starvation induces the expression of Paracoccidioides ortholog genes for siderophore biosynthesis and transport. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis revealed that the fungus produces and secretes coprogen B, which generates dimerumic acid as a breakdown product. Ferricrocin and ferri

SUBMITTER: Silva-Bailao MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4144954 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature