Transcript Chameleon Behavior of a Phospholipid-Like

Evgeny Fadeev, Minkui Luo and John T. Groves
CHE-0221978 Princeton University
Chameleon Behavior of a Phospholipid-Like Siderophore
Amphiphilic siderophores are exquisitely engineered by bacteria to facilitate the
iron uptake necessary for growth. The first structure determination of a citrate
based siderophore has revealed a remarkable conformational reorganization
upon binding the target metal that transforms the molecule from a parallel to an
anti-parallel side chain arrangement. This change simultaneously increases the
water solubility and the membrane permeability of the iron-laden form to
facilitate its recovery by the bacterial cell. Since iron can be the limiting
nutrient for growth, recognizing these strategies is key to understanding and
controlling bacterial development both in the environment and in disease states.
Fe(III) or Ga(III)
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 12065-75