Extracellular heme uptake and the challenges of bacterial cell membranes

The heme binding protein ChuX is a regulator of heme degradation by the ChuS protein in Escherichia coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli O157:H7 possesses an 8-gene cluster (chu genes) that contains genes involved in heme transport and processing from the human host. Among the chu genes, four encode cytoplasmic proteins (ChuS, ChuX, ChuY and ChuW). ChuX was previously shown to be a heme binding protein and to assist ChuW in heme degradation under anaerobic conditions. The purpose of this work was to investigate if ChuX works in concert with ChuS, which is a protein able to degrade heme by a non-canonical mechanism and release the iron from the porphyrin under aerobic conditions using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. We showed that when the heme-bound ChuX and apo-ChuS protein are mixed, heme is efficiently transferred from ChuX to ChuS. Heme-bound ChuX displayed a peroxidase activity with ABTS and H2O2 but not heme-bound ChuS, which is an efficient test to determine the protein to which heme is bound in the ChuS-ChuX complex. We found that ChuX protects heme from chemical oxidation and that it has no heme degradation activity by itself. Unexpectedly, we found that ChuX inhibits heme degradation by ChuS and stops the reaction at an early intermediate. We determined using surface plasmon resonance that ChuX interacts with ChuS and that it forms a relatively stable complex. These results indicate that ChuX in addition to its heme transfer activity is a regulator of ChuS activity, a function that was not described before for any of the heme carrier protein that delivers heme to heme degradation enzymes.

The role of host heme in bacterial infection

Heme is an indispensable cofactor for almost all aerobic life, including the human host and many bacterial pathogens. During infection, heme and hemoproteins are the largest source of bioavailable iron, and pathogens have evolved various heme acquisition pathways to satisfy their need for iron and heme. Many of these pathways are regulated transcriptionally by intracellular iron levels, however, host heme availability and intracellular heme levels have also been found to regulate heme uptake in some species. Knowledge of these pathways has helped to uncover not only how these bacteria incorporate host heme into their metabolism but also provided insight into the importance of host heme as a nutrient source during infection. Within this review is covered multiple aspects of the role of heme at the host pathogen interface, including the various routes of heme biosynthesis, how heme is sequestered by the host, and how heme is scavenged by bacterial pathogens. Also discussed is how heme and hemoproteins alter the behavior of the host immune system and bacterial pathogens. Finally, some unanswered questions about the regulation of heme uptake and how host heme is integrated into bacterial metabolism are highlighted.

Protein nitration induced by Hemin/NO: A complementary mechanism through the catalytic functions of hemin and NO-scavenging

Hemin and heme-peroxidases have been considered essential catalysts for the nitrite/hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-mediated protein nitration in vitro, understood as one of the main pathways for protein modification in biological systems. However, the role of nitric oxide (^●NO) in the heme/hemin-induced protein nitration has not been studied in-depth. This is despite its reductive nitrosylating effects following binding to hemin and the possible involvement of the reactive nitrogen species in the nitration of various functional proteins. Here, the ^●NO-binding affinity of hemin has been studied along with the influence of ^●NO on the internalization of hemin into MDA-MB-231 cells and the accompanying changes in the profile of intracellular nitrated proteins. Moreover, to further understand the mechanism involved, bovine serum albumin (BSA) nitration was studied after treatment with hemin and ^●NO, with an investigation of the effects of pH of the reaction medium, generation of H₂O₂, and the oxidation of the tyrosine residues as the primary sites for the nitration. We demonstrated that hemin nitrosylation enhanced its cellular uptake and induced the one-electron oxidation and nitration of different intracellular proteins along with its ^●NO-scavenging efficiency. Moreover, the hemin/NO-mediated BSA nitration was proved to be dependent on the concentration of ^●NO and the pH of the reaction medium, with a vital role being played by the scavenging effects of protein for the free hemin molecules. Collectively, our results reaffirm the involvement of hemin and ^●NO in the nitration mechanism, where the nitrosylation products can induce protein nitration while promoting the effects of the components of the nitrite/H₂O₂-mediated pathway.

Synthesis and in vitro analysis of novel gallium tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin and its long-acting nanoparticle as a potent antimycobacterial agent

Bacterial heme uptake pathways offer a novel target for antimicrobial drug discovery. Recently, gallium (Ga) porphyrin complexes were found to be effective against mycobacterial heme uptake pathways. The goal of the current study is to build on this foundation and develop a new Ga(III) porphyrin and its nanoparticles, formulated by a single emulsion-evaporation technique to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) with enhanced properties. Gallium 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin chloride (GaMeOTP) was synthesized from 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin and GaCl₃. GaMeOTP showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against MAC104 and some clinical M. avium isolates. The synthesized Ga(III) porphyrin antimicrobial activity resulted in the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Our study also demonstrated that F127 nanoparticles encapsulating GaMeOTP exhibited a smaller size than GaTP nanoparticles and a better duration of activity in MAC-infected macrophages compared to the free GaMeOTP. The nanoparticles were trafficked to endosomal compartments within MAC-infected macrophages, likely contributing to the antimicrobial activity of the drug.

Extracellular haem utilization by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its role in virulence and pathogenesis

Iron is an essential micronutrient for all bacteria but presents a significant challenge given its limited bioavailability. Furthermore, iron's toxicity combined with the need to maintain iron levels within a narrow physiological range requires integrated systems to sense, regulate and transport a variety of iron complexes. Most bacteria encode systems to chelate and transport ferric iron (Fe³⁺) via siderophore receptor mediated uptake or via cytoplasmic energy dependent transport systems. Pathogenic bacteria have further lowered the barrier to iron acquisition by employing systems to utilize haem as a source of iron. Haem, a lipophilic and toxic molecule, presents a significant challenge for transport into the cell. As such pathogenic bacteria have evolved sophisticated cell surface signaling (CSS) and transport systems to sense and obtain haem from the host. Once internalized haem is cleaved by both oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms to release iron. Herein we summarize our current understanding of the mechanism of haem sensing, uptake and utilization in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, its role in pathogenesis and virulence, and the potential of these systems as antimicrobial targets.

Transcriptional Regulation of the Multiple Resistance Mechanisms in Salmonella-A Review

The widespread use of antibiotics, especially those with a broad spectrum of activity, has resulted in the development of multidrug resistance in many strains of bacteria, including Salmonella. Salmonella is among the most prevalent causes of intoxication due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. Salmonellosis caused by this pathogen is pharmacologically treated using antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin. This foodborne pathogen developed several molecular mechanisms of resistance both on the level of global and local transcription modulators. The increasing rate of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella poses a significant global concern, and an improved understanding of the multidrug resistance mechanisms in Salmonella is essential for choosing the suitable antibiotic for the treatment of infections. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms that control gene expression related to antibiotic resistance of Salmonella strains. We characterized regulators acting as transcription activators and repressors, as well as two-component signal transduction systems. We also discuss the background of the molecular mechanisms of the resistance to metals, regulators of multidrug resistance to antibiotics, global regulators of the LysR family, as well as regulators of histone-like proteins.

Molecular cloning and immunogenicity evaluation of IsdE protein of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus as vaccine candidates

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. Current therapeutic approaches are not always effective in treatment of nosocomial infections, thus, there is a global demand for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Staphylococcus aureus possesses various systems to uptake iron. One of the most important of them is iron regulated surface determinant (Isd) which can be an excellent candidate for immunization. Here, following the preparation of recombinant IsdE protein, 20 μg of r-IsdE prepared in various formulations were subcutaneously injected in different groups of mice. Two booster vaccinations were administered in two-week intervals, then, blood samples were collected two weeks after each injection. ELISA was used for the evaluation of total IgG and its isotypes (IgG1 and IgG2a) as well as quantity of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, IL-2 and TNF-α cytokines on the serum samples. Meanwhile, the immunized mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 5 × 10⁸ CFU of bacteria then, their mortality rate and bacterial load were assessed. Our results showed that immunization with the r-IsdE in various formulations raised total IgG and isotypes (IgG1 and IgG2a) compared with the control groups. Moreover, r-IsdE formulation with MF59 and Freund adjuvants raised production of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, IL-2 and TNF-α cytokines and provided an acceptable protection against Staphylococcus aureus infections. Results of present study suggest that r-IsdE which can easily be expressed by Escherichia coli BL21 system shows a great potential to develop a protective immunity against infections caused by Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacterial iron detoxification at the molecular level

Iron is an essential micronutrient, and, in the case of bacteria, its availability is commonly a growth-limiting factor. However, correct functioning of cells requires that the labile pool of chelatable "free" iron be tightly regulated. Correct metalation of proteins requiring iron as a cofactor demands that such a readily accessible source of iron exist, but overaccumulation results in an oxidative burden that, if unchecked, would lead to cell death. The toxicity of iron stems from its potential to catalyze formation of reactive oxygen species that, in addition to causing damage to biological molecules, can also lead to the formation of reactive nitrogen species. To avoid iron-mediated oxidative stress, bacteria utilize iron-dependent global regulators to sense the iron status of the cell and regulate the expression of proteins involved in the acquisition, storage, and efflux of iron accordingly. Here, we survey the current understanding of the structure and mechanism of the important members of each of these classes of protein. Diversity in the details of iron homeostasis mechanisms reflect the differing nutritional stresses resulting from the wide variety of ecological niches that bacteria inhabit. However, in this review, we seek to highlight the similarities of iron homeostasis between different bacteria, while acknowledging important variations. In this way, we hope to illustrate how bacteria have evolved common approaches to overcome the dual problems of the insolubility and potential toxicity of iron.

Repurposing Acitretin as an Antipseudomonal Agent Targeting the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Iron-Regulated Heme Oxygenase

Iron is an essential micronutrient for the survival and virulence of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To overcome iron withholding and successfully colonize a host, P. aeruginosa uses a variety of mechanisms to acquire iron, including the secretion of high-affinity iron chelators (siderophores) or the uptake and utilization of heme. P. aeruginosa heme oxygenase (HemO) plays pivotal roles in heme sensing, uptake, and utilization and has emerged as a therapeutic target for the development of antipseudomonal agents. Using a high-throughput fluorescence quenching assay combined with minimum inhibitory concentration measurements, we screened the Selleck Bioactive collection of 2100 compounds and identified acitretin, a Food and Drug Administration-approved oral retinoid, as a potent and selective inhibitor of HemO. Acitretin binds to HemO with a KD value of 0.10 ± 0.02 μM and inhibits the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1 with an IC50 of 70 ± 18 μg/mL. In addition, acitretin showed good selectivity for HemO, which uniquely generates BVIXβ/δ, over human heme oxygenase (hHO1) and other BVIXα-producing homologues such as the heme oxygenases from Neisseria meningitidis (nmHO) and Acinetobacter baumannii (abHO). The binding of acitretin within the HemO active site was confirmed by 1H-15N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance, and molecular modeling provided further insight into potential interactions of acitretin with residues specific for orienting heme in the β/δ selective HemO. Moreover, at 20 μM, acitretin inhibited the enzymatic activity of HemO in P. aeruginosa cells by >60% and effectively blocked the ability of P. aeruginosa to sense and acquire heme as demonstrated in the β-galactosidase transcriptional reporter assay.

Progress towards the Development of a NEAT Vaccine for Anthrax II: Immunogen Specificity and Alum Effectiveness in an Inhalational Model

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax disease, presents with high mortality, and has been at the center of bioweapon efforts. The only currently U.S. FDA-approved vaccine to prevent anthrax in humans is anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA), which is protective in several animal models and induces neutralizing antibodies against protective antigen (PA), the cell-binding component of anthrax toxin. However, AVA requires a five-course regimen to induce immunity, along with an annual booster, and is composed of undefined culture supernatants from a PA-secreting strain. In addition, it appears to be ineffective against strains that lack anthrax toxin. Here, we investigated a vaccine formulation consisting of recombinant proteins from a surface-localized heme transport system containing near-iron transporter (NEAT) domains and its efficacy as a vaccine for anthrax disease. The cocktail of five NEAT domains was protective against a lethal challenge of inhaled bacillus spores at 3 and 28 weeks after vaccination. The reduction of the formulation to three NEATs (IsdX1, IsdX2, and Bslk) was as effective as a five-NEAT domain cocktail. The adjuvant alum, approved for use in humans, was as protective as Freund's Adjuvant, and protective vaccination correlated with increased anti-NEAT antibody reactivity and reduced bacterial levels in organs. Finally, the passive transfer of anti-NEAT antisera reduced mortality and disease severity, suggesting the protective component is comprised of antibodies. Collectively, these results provide evidence that a vaccine based upon recombinant NEAT proteins should be considered in the development of a next-generation anthrax vaccine.

The Role of Iron and Siderophores in Infection, and the Development of Siderophore Antibiotics

Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, replication, and metabolism. Humans store iron bound to various proteins such as hemoglobin, haptoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, and lactoferrin, limiting the availability of free iron for pathogenic bacteria. However, bacteria have developed various mechanisms to sequester or scavenge iron from the host environment. Iron can be taken up by means of active transport systems that consist of bacterial small molecule siderophores, outer membrane siderophore receptors, the TonB-ExbBD energy-transducing proteins coupling the outer and the inner membranes, and inner membrane transporters. Some bacteria also express outer membrane receptors for iron-binding proteins of the host and extract iron directly from these for uptake. Ultimately, iron is acquired and transported into the bacterial cytoplasm. The siderophores are small molecules produced and released by nearly all bacterial species and are classified according to the chemical nature of their iron-chelating group (ie, catechol, hydroxamate, α-hydroxyl-carboxylate, or mixed types). Siderophore-conjugated antibiotics that exploit such iron-transport systems are under development for the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Despite demonstrating high in vitro potency against pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria, further development of several candidates had stopped due to apparent adaptive resistance during exposure, lack of consistent in vivo efficacy, or emergence of side effects in the host. However, cefiderocol, with an optimized structure, has advanced and has been investigated in phase 1 to 3 clinical trials. This article discusses the mechanisms implicated in iron uptake and the challenges associated with the design and utilization of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics.

Dual Inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Iron Metabolism Using Gallium Porphyrin and Gallium Nitrate

Iron- and heme-uptake pathways and metabolism are promising targets for the development of new antimicrobial agents, as their disruption would lead to nutritional iron starvation and inhibition of bacterial growth. Salts of gallium(III) (Ga), an iron mimetic metal, disrupt iron-dependent biological processes by binding iron-utilizing proteins and competing with iron for uptake by bacterial siderophore-mediated iron uptake systems. Ga porphyrins, heme mimetic complexes, disrupt heme-utilizing hemoproteins. Because Ga(NO₃)₃ and Ga porphyrin disrupt different pathways of bacterial ion acquisition and utilization, we hypothesized that if used in combination, they would result in enhanced antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity of Ga porphyrins (Ga protoporphyrin, GaPP, or Ga mesoporphyrin, GaMP) alone and in combination with Ga(NO₃)₃ were evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under iron-limited conditions. The Ga porphyrin/Ga(NO₃)₃ combination demonstrated substantial synergism against K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and MRSA. Time-kill assays revealed that the synergistic combination of GaPP/Ga(NO₃)₃ was bacteriostatic against K. pneumoniae and MRSA and bactericidal against P. aeruginosa. The GaPP/Ga(NO₃)₃ combination significantly disrupted K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa biofilms on plasma-coated surfaces and increased the survival of Caenorhabditis elegans infected with K. pneumoniae or P. aeruginosa. When assessing the antibacterial activity of the Ga(III)/antibiotic combinations, GaPP/colistin and Ga(NO₃)₃/colistin combinations also showed synergistic activity against K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. Our results demonstrate that GaPP and Ga(NO₃)₃ have significant synergistic effects against several important human bacterial pathogens through dual inhibition of iron and heme metabolism.

Recent developments in smart antibacterial surfaces to inhibit biofilm formation and bacterial infections

Since their development over 70 years, antibiotics are still the most effective strategy to treat bacterial biofilms and infections.

Extracellular Heme Uptake and the Challenge of Bacterial Cell Membranes

Iron is essential for the survival of most bacteria but presents a significant challenge given its limited bioavailability. Furthermore, the toxicity of iron combined with the need to maintain physiological iron levels within a narrow concentration range requires sophisticated systems to sense, regulate, and transport iron. Most bacteria have evolved mechanisms to chelate and transport ferric iron (Fe³⁺) via siderophore receptor systems, and pathogenic bacteria have further lowered this barrier by employing mechanisms to utilize the host's hemoproteins. Once internalized, heme is cleaved by both oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms to release iron. Heme, itself a lipophilic and toxic molecule, presents a significant challenge for transport into the cell. As such, pathogenic bacteria have evolved sophisticated cell surface signaling and transport systems to obtain heme from the host. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of the heme-sensing and transport systems of pathogenic bacteria and the potential of these systems as antimicrobial targets.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae HmuT: dissecting the roles of conserved residues in heme pocket stabilization

The heme-binding protein HmuT is part of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae heme uptake pathway and is responsible for the delivery of heme to the HmuUV ABC transporter. HmuT binds heme with a conserved His/Tyr heme axial ligation motif. Sequence alignment revealed additional conserved residues of potential importance for heme binding: R237, Y272 and M292. In this study, site-directed mutations at these three positions provided insight into the nature of axial heme binding to the protein and its effect on the thermal stability of the heme-loaded protein fold. UV-visible absorbance, resonance Raman (rR) and thermal unfolding experiments, along with collision-induced dissociation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, were used to probe the contributions of each mutated residue to the stability of ϖ HmuT. Thermal unfolding and rR experiments revealed that R237 and M292 are important residues for heme binding. Arginine 237 is a hydrogen-bond donor to the phenol side chain of Y235, which serves as an axial heme ligand. Methionine 292 serves a supporting structural role, favoring the R237 hydrogen-bond donation, which elicits a, heretofore, unobserved modulating influence on π donation by the axial tyrosine ligand in the heme carbonyl complex, HmuT-CO.

Heme-bound SiaA from Streptococcus pyogenes: Effects of mutations and oxidation state on protein stability

The protein SiaA (HtsA) is part of a heme uptake pathway in Streptococcus pyogenes. In this report, we present the heme binding of the alanine mutants of the axial histidine (H229A) and methionine (M79A) ligands, as well as a lysine (K61A) and cysteine (C58A) located near the heme propionates (based on homology modeling) and a control mutant (C47A). pH titrations gave pKa values ranging from 9.0 to 9.5, close to the value of 9.7 for WT SiaA. Resonance Raman spectra of the mutants suggested that the ferric heme environment may be distinct from the wild-type; spectra of the ferrous states were similar. The midpoint reduction potential of the K61A mutant was determined by spectroelectrochemical titration to be 61±3mV vs. SHE, similar to the wild-type protein (68±3mV). The addition of guanidine hydrochloride showed two processes for protein denaturation, consistent with heme loss from protein forms differing by the orientation of the heme in the binding pocket (the half-life for the slower process ranged from less than half a day to two days). The ease of protein unfolding was related to the strength of interaction of the residues with the heme. We hypothesize that kinetically facile but only partial unfolding, followed by a very slow approach to the completely unfolded state, may be a fundamental attribute of heme trafficking proteins. Small motions to release/transfer the heme accompanied by resistance to extensive unfolding may preserve the three dimensional form of the protein for further uptake and release.

Heme Binding by Corynebacterium diphtheriae HmuT: Function and Heme Environment

The heme uptake pathway (hmu) of Corynebacterium diphtheriae utilizes multiple proteins to bind and transport heme into the cell. One of these proteins, HmuT, delivers heme to the ABC transporter HmuUV. In this study, the axial ligation of the heme in ferric HmuT is probed by examination of wild-type (WT) HmuT and a series of conserved heme pocket residue mutants, H136A, Y235A, and M292A. Characterization by UV-visible, resonance Raman, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies indicates that H136 and Y235 are the axial ligands in ferric HmuT. Consistent with this assignment of axial ligands, ferric WT and H136A HmuT are difficult to reduce while Y235A is reduced readily in the presence of dithionite. The FeCO Raman shifts in WT, H136A, and Y235A HmuT-CO complexes provide further evidence of the axial ligand assignments. Additionally, these frequencies provide insight into the nonbonding environment of the heme pocket. Ferrous Y235A and the Y235A-CO complex reveal that the imidazole of H136 exists in two forms, one neutral and one with imidazolate character, consistent with a hydrogen bond acceptor on the H136 side of the heme. The ferric fluoride complex of Y235A reveals the presence of at least one hydrogen bond donor on the Y235 side of the heme. Hemoglobin utilization assays showed that the axial Y235 ligand is required for heme uptake in HmuT.

Spectroscopic evidence for a 5-coordinate oxygenic ligated high spin ferric heme moiety in the Neisseria meningitidis hemoglobin binding receptor

BACKGROUND

For many pathogenic microorganisms, iron acquisition represents a significant stress during the colonization of a mammalian host. Heme is the single most abundant source of soluble iron in this environment. While the importance of iron assimilation for nearly all organisms is clear, the mechanisms by which heme is acquired and utilized by many bacterial pathogens, even those most commonly found at sites of infection, remain poorly understood.

METHODS

An alternative protocol for the production and purification of the outer membrane hemoglobin receptor (HmbR) from the pathogen Neisseria meningitidis has facilitated a biophysical characterization of this outer membrane transporter by electronic absorption, circular dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance, and resonance Raman techniques.

RESULTS

HmbR co-purifies with 5-coordinate high spin ferric heme bound. The heme binding site accommodates exogenous imidazole as a sixth ligand, which results in a 6-coordinate, low-spin ferric species. Both the 5- and 6-coordinate complexes are reduced by sodium hydrosulfite. Four HmbR variants with a modest decrease in binding efficiency for heme have been identified (H87C, H280A, Y282A, and Y456C). These findings are consistent with an emerging paradigm wherein the ferric iron center of bound heme is coordinated by a tyrosine ligand.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this study provides the first spectroscopic characterization for any heme or iron transporter in Neisseria meningitidis, and suggests a coordination environment heretofore unobserved in a TonB-dependent hemin transporter.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

A detailed understanding of the nutrient acquisition pathways in common pathogens such as N. meningitidis provides a foundation for new antimicrobial strategies.

Role of ferric reductases in iron acquisition and virulence in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Iron acquisition is critical for the ability of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans to cause disease in vertebrate hosts. In particular, iron overload exacerbates cryptococcal disease in an animal model, defects in iron acquisition attenuate virulence, and iron availability influences the expression of major virulence factors. C. neoformans acquires iron by multiple mechanisms, including a ferroxidase-permease high-affinity system, siderophore uptake, and utilization of both heme and transferrin. In this study, we examined the expression of eight candidate ferric reductase genes and their contributions to iron acquisition as well as to ferric and cupric reductase activities. We found that loss of the FRE4 gene resulted in a defect in production of the virulence factor melanin and increased susceptibility to azole antifungal drugs. In addition, the FRE2 gene was important for growth on the iron sources heme and transferrin, which are relevant for proliferation in the host. Fre2 may participate with the ferroxidase Cfo1 of the high-affinity uptake system for growth on heme, because a mutant lacking both genes showed a more pronounced growth defect than the fre2 single mutant. A role for Fre2 in iron acquisition is consistent with the attenuation of virulence observed for the fre2 mutant. This mutant also was defective in accumulation in the brains of infected mice, a phenotype previously observed for mutants with defects in high-affinity iron uptake (e.g., the cfo1 mutant). Overall, this study provides a more detailed view of the iron acquisition components required for C. neoformans to cause cryptococcosis.

The hemophore HasA from Yersinia pestis (HasAyp) coordinates hemin with a single residue, Tyr75, and with minimal conformational change

Hemophores from Serratia marcescens (HasA(sm)) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (HasA(p)) bind hemin between two loops, which harbor the axial ligands H32 and Y75. Hemin binding to the Y75 loop triggers closing of the H32 loop and enables binding of H32. Because Yersinia pestis HasA (HasA(yp)) presents a Gln at position 32, we determined the structures of apo- and holo-HasA(yp). Surprisingly, the Q32 loop in apo-HasA(yp) is already in the closed conformation, but no residue from the Q32 loop binds hemin in holo-HasA(yp). In agreement with the minimal reorganization between the apo- and holo-structures, the hemin on-rate is too fast to detect by conventional stopped-flow measurements.