biostudies-literatureZhang HMOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of Chinae0325623https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10846271biostudies-literatureUnknown12(2)Bacteria absorb different forms of iron through various channels to meet their needs. Our previous studies have shown that TseF, a type VI secretion system effector for Fe uptake, facilitates the delivery of outer membrane vesicle-associated <i>Pseudomonas</i> quinolone signal (PQS)-Fe³⁺ to bacterial cells by a process involving the Fe(III) pyochelin receptor FptA and the porin OprF. However, the form in which the PQS-Fe³⁺ complex enters the periplasm and how it is moved into the cytoplasm remain unclear. Here, we first demonstrate that the PQS-Fe³⁺ complex enters the cell directly through FptA or OprF. Next, we show that inner membrane transporters such as FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG are not only necessary for <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> to absorb PQS-Fe<suMicrobiology spectrumPQS and pyochelin in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> share inner membrane transporters to mediate iron uptake.PMC1084627131700031, 32070103, 32360015, 31860012Yang JZhang HZeng JMa XLin JCheng JfalsePQS and pyochelin in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> share inner membrane transporters to mediate iron uptake.Bacteria absorb different forms of iron through various channels to meet their needs. Our previous studies have shown that TseF, a type VI secretion system effector for Fe uptake, facilitates the delivery of outer membrane vesicle-associated <i>Pseudomonas</i> quinolone signal (PQS)-Fe³⁺ to bacterial cells by a process involving the Fe(III) pyochelin receptor FptA and the porin OprF. However, the form in which the PQS-Fe³⁺ complex enters the periplasm and how it is moved into the cytoplasm remain unclear. Here, we first demonstrate that the PQS-Fe³⁺ complex enters the cell directly through FptA or OprF. Next, we show that inner membrane transporters such as FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG are not only necessary for <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> to absorb PQS-Fe<su2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Feb2025-04-22T03:21:52.928Z2025-04-05T20:41:32.524ZS-EPMC108462713817100110.1128/spectrum.03256-23