Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Utilizes Surface-Located Elongation Factor G to Acquire Iron from Holo-Transferrin.

ABSTRACT: Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) can cause systemic infections in both humans and animals. As an essential nutrient, iron is strictly sequestered by the host. Circumventing iron sequestration is a determinant factor for ExPEC infection. However, the ExPEC iron acquisition mechanism, particularly the mechanism of transferrin (TF) acquisition, remains unclear. This study reports that iron-saturated holo-TF can be utilized by ExPEC to promote its growth in culture medium and survival in macrophages. ExPEC specifically bound to holo-TF instead of iron-free apo-TF via the surface located elongation factor G (EFG) in both culture medium and macrophages. As a moonlighting protein, EFG specifically bound holo-TF and also released iron in TF. These two functions were performed by

SUBMITTER: Sun Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9045202 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature