Elucidating the molecular programming of a nonlinear non-ribosomal peptide synthetase responsible for fungal siderophore biosynthesis

Siderophores belonging to the ferrichrome family are essential for the viability of fungal species and play a key role for virulence of numerous pathogenic fungi. Despite their biological significance, our understanding of how these iron-chelating cyclic hexapeptides are assembled by non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) enzymes remains poorly understood, primarily due to the nonlinearity exhibited by the domain architecture. Herein, we report the biochemical characterization of the SidC NRPS, responsible for construction of the intracellular siderophore ferricrocin. In vitro reconstitution of purified SidC reveals its ability to produce ferricrocin and its structural variant, ferrichrome. Application of intact protein mass spectrometry uncovers several non-canonical events during peptidyl siderophore biosynthesis, including inter-modular loading of amino acid substrates and an adenylation domain capable of poly-amide bond formation. This work expands the scope of NRPS programming, allows biosynthetic assignment of ferrichrome NRPSs, and sets the stage for reprogramming towards novel hydroxamate scaffolds.

The effects of structurally different siderophores on the organelles of Pinus sylvestris root cells

Siderophores are a driver of Pinus sylvestris root responses to metabolites secreted by pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi. Structurally different siderophores regulate the uptake of Fe by microorganisms and may play a key role in the colonization of plants by beneficial or pathogenic fungi. Siderophore action, however, may be dependent on the distribution of Fe within cells. Here, the involvement of siderophores in determining the changes of organelle morphology and element composition of some cellular fractions of root cells in Pinus sylvestris to trophically diverse fungi was investigated. Changes in the morphology and concentrations of different elements within organelles of root cells in response to three structurally different siderophores were examined by transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Weak development of mitochondrial cristae and the deposition of backup materials in plastids occurred in the absence of Fe in the structures of triacetylfusarinine C and ferricrocin. In response to metabolites of both pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi, Fe accumulated mainly in the cell walls and cytoplasm. Fe counts increased in all of the analyzed organelles in response to applications of ferricrocin and triacetylfusarinine C. Chelation of Fe within the structure of siderophores prevents the binding of exogenous Fe, decreasing the abundance of Fe in the cell wall and cytoplasm. The concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, Mg, and Zn also increased in cells after applications of ferricrocin and triacetylfusarinine C, while the levels of these elements decreased in the cell wall and cytoplasm when Fe was present within the structure of the siderophores. These results provide insight into the siderophore-driven response of plants to various symbionts.

Identification of the hydroxamate siderophore ferricrocin in Cladosporium cladosporioides

The hydroxamate siderophore ferricrocin was identified in Cladosporium cladosporioides growth medium by solid phase extraction and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a time of flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC/QTOF-MS). Both desferricrocin and ferricrocin were detected in the extracellular medium assisted by high resolution mass spectrometry. This is the first identification of a hydroxamate siderophore in Cladosporium cladosporioides. This finding emphasizes the common meaning of ferricrocin in fungi.

Collision-induced dissociation of three groups of hydroxamate siderophores: ferrioxamines, ferrichromes and coprogens/fusigens

The behaviour of a series of hydroxamate siderophores--microbially produced iron complexes - was investigated using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Three groups of iron hydroxamate siderophores, namely the ferrioxamines, ferrichromes and coprogens/fusigens, were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) prior to ESI and MS(2) fragmentation. For the majority of the siderophores, both protonated molecules and sodium adducts were observed. The most abundant ion was selected for collision-induced fragmentation. Potential fragmentation mechanisms are postulated and discussed. Fragmentation patterns differed between siderophore groups; however, common fragmentation patterns were observed for siderophore ions within the groups examined. Cleavage frequently occurred at carbon-nitrogen or carbon-oxygen bonds. Fragmentation of the ions also involved cleavage of iron-oxygen bonds and transfer of the charge to iron.

Iron Chelation Equilibria, Redox, and Siderophore Activity of a Saccharide Platform Ferrichrome Analogue

A complete characterization of the aqueous solution Fe(III) and Fe(II) coordination chemistry of a saccharide-based ferrichrome analogue, 1-O-methyl-2,3,6-tris-O-[4-(N-hydroxy-N-ethylcarbamoyl)-n-butyryl]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (H3LN236), is reported including relevant thermodynamic parameters and growth promotion activity with respect to both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. The saccharide platform is an attractive backbone for the design and synthesis of ferrichrome analogues because of its improved water solubility and hydrogen-bonding capabilities, which can potentially provide favorable receptor recognition and biological activity. The ligand deprotonation constants (pKa values), iron complex (FeIII(LN236) and FeII(LN236)1-) protonation constants (KFeHxL-236-N), overall Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants (beta110), and aqueous solution speciation were determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titrations, EDTA competition equilibria, and cyclic voltammetry. Log betaIII110 = 31.16 and pFe = 26.1 for FeIII(LN236) suggests a high affinity for Fe(III), which is comparable to or greater than ferrichrome and other ferrichrome analogues. The E1/2 for the FeIII(LN236)/FeII(LN236)1- couple was determined to be -454 mV (vs NHE) from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH 9. Below pH 6.5, the E1/2 shifts to more positive values and the pH-dependent E1/2 profile was used to determine the FeII(LN236)1- protonation constants and overall stability constant log betaII110 = 11.1. A comparative analysis of similar data for an Fe(III) complex of a structural isomer of this exocyclic saccharide chelator (H3LR234), including strain energy calculations, allows us to analyze the relative effects of the pendant arm position and hydroxamate moiety orientation (normal vs retro) on overall complex stability. A correlation between siderophore activity and iron coordination chemistry of these saccharide-hydroxamate chelators is made.

Iron Chelated Cyclic Peptide, Ferrichrysin, for Oral Treatment of Iron Deficiency: Solution Properties and Efficacy in Anemic Rats

Ferrichrysin (Fcy), which is produced by Aspergillus oryzae and is present in foods used for human consumption, belongs to a group of hydroxamate siderophore ferric iron chelators. Fcy (100 mg/mL) dissolves completely at both pH 2.0 and 7.0, being very stable at a wide range of pH, high temperatures and pressures, with little reactivity to dietary iron absorption inhibitors, phytic acid, tannic acid, and catechin. We studied the effect of Fcy in male Sprague-Dawley rats with iron-deficiency anemia, which were separated into three different dietary groups (n = 5) and supplementing diets as follows: (i) ferric citrate, (ii) heme iron concentrate, and (iii) Fcy (35 mg Fe/kg diet) for three weeks. Fcy exhibited the same beneficial effect in improving iron deficiency anemia as ferric citrate, being significantly greater than the effect of heme iron. The iron concentration of liver in the Fcy group was 35% greater than that in the ferric citrate group. These findings indicate that Fcy could be an efficient oral iron supplement to prevent or treat iron deficiency.

[A IL-6R antagonist 2520A produced by a fungal species]

AIM

To isolate IL-6R antagonists from the cultured broth of the strain Torulomyces ovatus.

METHODS

Various column chromatographyes were used to separate and purify the compounds with IL-6R antagonist activity. The spectral data and physic-chemical properties were measured for structure identification.

RESULTS

One compound namely 2520 was isolated from the cultured broth of Torulomyces ovatus.

CONCLUSION

2520A is a known compound (ferrichrome). It is first reported about its antagonistic activity of IL-6R and identification of iron atom in its structure.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the periplasmic ferric-hydroxamate binding protein FhuD

FhuD is a periplasmic binding protein (PBP) that, under iron-limiting conditions, transports various hydroxamate-type siderophores from the outer membrane receptor (FhuA) to the inner membrane ATP-binding cassette transporter (FhuBC). Unlike many other PBPs, FhuD possesses two independently folded domains that are connected by an alpha-helix rather than two or three central beta-strands. Crystal structures of FhuD with and without bound gallichrome have provided some insight into the mechanism of siderophore binding as well as suggested a potential mechanism for FhuD binding to FhuB. Since the alpha-helix connecting the two domains imposes greater rigidity on the structure relative to the beta-strands in other 'classical' PBPs, these structures reveal no large conformational change upon binding a hydroxamate-type siderophore. Therefore, it is difficult to explain how the inner membrane transporter FhuB can distinguish between ferrichrome-bound and ferrichrome-free FhuD. In the current study, we have employed a 30 ns molecular dynamics simulation of FhuD with its bound siderophore removed to explore the dynamic behavior of FhuD in the substrate-free state. The MD simulation suggests that FhuD is somewhat dynamic with a C-terminal domain closure of 6 degrees upon release of its siderophore. This relatively large motion suggests differences that would allow FhuB to distinguish between ferrichrome-bound and ferrichrome-free FhuD.

Nonribosomal Peptide Synthesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the Architectures of Ferrichrome-Type Siderophore Synthetases in Fungi

A nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which possesses an unusual structure incorporating three adenylation domains, six thiolation domains and six condensation domains, has been shown to produce the cyclohexapeptide siderophore ferrichrome. One of the adenylation domains is truncated and contains a distorted key motif. Substrate-binding specificities of the remaining two domains were assigned by molecular modelling to glycine and to N-acetyl-N-hydroxy-L-ornithine. Hexapeptide siderophore synthetase genes of Magnaporthe grisea and Fusarium graminearum were both identified and analyzed with respect to substrate-binding sites, and the predicted product ferricrocin was identified in each. A comparative analysis of these synthetase systems, including those of the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis, the homobasidiomycete Omphalotus olearius and the ascomycetes Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium graminearum, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Neurospora crassa and Aureobasidium pullulans, revealed divergent domain compositions with respect to their number and positioning, although all produce similar products by iterative processes. A phylogenetic analysis of both NRPSs and associated L-N5-ornithine monooxygenases revealed that ferrichrome-type siderophore biosynthesis has coevolved in fungi with varying in trans interactions of NRPS domains.

Synthesis and properties of different metal complexes of the siderophore desferriferricrocin

Desferriferricrocin is a cyclic hexa-peptide siderophore with three hydroxamates as primary coordination groups. It forms metal complexes with Fe(III), Cr(III), Al(III), Ga(III), Cu(II), and Zn(II). These complexes were prepared and characterized using UV-vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). The mononuclear trivalent metal complexes of desferriferricrocin were stable in aqueous solutions, and their coordination centers primarily adopted the lambda configuration. The formation of multinuclear complexes of desferriferricrocin was determined by ESI-MS. Desferriferricrocin was able to bind up to three Cu(II) and two Zn(II) respectively. Heteronuclear complexes containing one trivalent and one divalent were also determined. In these complexes, amide nitrogens were utilized as alternative binding groups of desferriferricrocin in addition to the primary binding groups, the hydroxamates.

Ferrichrome in Schizosaccharomyces pombe ? an iron transport and iron storage compound

Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been assumed not to produce siderophores. Nevertheless, the genomic sequence of this fission yeast revealed the presence of siderophore biosynthetic genes for hydroxamates. Applying a bioassay based on an Aspergillus nidulans strain deficient in siderophore biosynthesis, and using reversed-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis, we demonstrate that S. pombe excretes and accumulates intracellularly the hydroxamate-type siderophore ferrichrome. Under iron-limiting conditions, the cellular ferrichrome pool was present in the desferri-form, while under iron-richconditions, in the ferri-form. In contrast to S. pombe, hydroxamate-type siderophores could not be detected intwo other yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans.

Dimerization of TonB Is Not Essential for Its Binding to the Outer Membrane Siderophore Receptor FhuA of Escherichia coli

FhuA belongs to a family of specific siderophore transport systems located in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. The energy required for the transport process is provided by the proton motive force of the cytoplasmic membrane and is transmitted to FhuA by the protein TonB. Although the structure of full-length TonB is not known, the structure of the last 77 residues of a fragment composed of the 86 C-terminal amino acids was recently solved and shows an intertwined dimer (Chang, C., Mooser, A., Pluckthun, A., and Wlodawer, A. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 27535-27540). We analyzed the ability of truncated C-terminal TonB fragments of different lengths (77, 86, 96, 106, 116, and 126 amino acid residues, respectively) to bind to the receptor FhuA. Only the shortest TonB fragment, TonB-77, could not effectively interact with FhuA. We have also observed that the fragments TonB-77 and TonB-86 form homodimers in solution, whereas the longer fragments remain monomeric. TonB fragments that bind to FhuA in vitro also inhibit ferrichrome uptake via FhuA in vivo and protect cells against attack by bacteriophage Phi80.

4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase-encoding npgA is essential for siderophore biosynthesis in Aspergillus nidulans

Aspergillus nidulans produces two major siderophores: it excretes triacetylfusarinine C to capture iron and contains ferricrocin as an intracellular iron-storage compound. Siderophore biosynthesis involves the enzymatic activity of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS). NRPS contain 4'-phosphopantetheine as an essential prosthetic group, which is attached by 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferases. A. nidulans appears to possess at least one gene, npgA, encoding such an enzyme. Using a strain carrying a temperature-sensitive allele, cfwA2, we showed that NpgA is essential for biosynthesis of both the peptide bond-containing ferricrocin and the ester bond-containing triacetylfusarinene C. The cfwA2 strain was found to be iron-starved at the restrictive temperature during iron-replete conditions, consistent with the siderophore system being the major iron-uptake system-as we recently demonstrated. Northern analysis indicated that, in contrast to other genes which are involved in siderophore biosynthesis and uptake, expression of npgA is not controlled by the GATA-transcription factor SreA. It was shown previously that NpgA is required for biosynthesis of penicillin, pigment, and potentially lysine via the alpha-aminoadipate pathway. Supplementation with lysine plus triacetylfusarinine C restored normal growth of the cfwA2 strain at the restrictive temperature, suggesting that the growth defect of the mutant is mainly due to impaired biosynthesis of siderophores and lysine.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the bacterial outer membrane protein FhuA: a comparative study of the ferrichrome-free and bound states

FhuA is one of the more complex members of the superfamily of bacterial outer membrane proteins. Its primary function is to provide a binding site on the outer membrane surface for siderophores, such as ferrichrome, and subsequently to facilitate their energy-dependent transport across the membrane, presumably powered by the TonB-ExbBD protein complex that resides in the cytoplasmic membrane. Crystal structures of FhuA with and without a bound ferrichrome molecule have provided some clues as to the initial stages of the siderophore transport mechanism. In the current study, we have employed 10-ns duration molecular dynamics simulations of FhuA and of the FhuA-ferrichrome complex, both embedded in a phospholipid bilayer, to probe the short timescale dynamics of this integral membrane protein, and to explore possible mechanistic implications of this dynamic behavior. Analysis of the dynamics of the protein suggests that the extracellular loops move as relatively rigid entities relative to the transmembrane beta-barrel. Comparison of the two simulations (with and without bound ferrichrome) revealed some ligand-induced changes in loop mobility. Specifically, loop L8 appears to be involved in a mechanism whereby the binding site is gated closed upon ligand binding. Analysis of the dynamics of water molecules within the core of the FhuA protein provided no evidence for a water-permeable protopore through which the ferrichrome might pass without a major perturbation of the FhuA protein. Overall, these simulations support the proposal that binding of ferrichrome initiates a signaling mechanism that ultimately leads to the TonB-mediated partial or total removal of the core domain from the beta-barrel, thus opening up a permeable pore. These simulations are among the longest that have been performed on a complex membrane protein. However, a simple analysis of sampling reveals that the description of protein motions is far from complete.

The siderophore system is essential for viability of Aspergillus nidulans: functional analysis of two genes encoding l-ornithine N 5-monooxygenase (sidA) and a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (sidC)

The filamentous ascomycete A. nidulans produces two major siderophores: it excretes triacetylfusarinine C to capture iron and contains ferricrocin intracellularly. In this study we report the characterization of two siderophore biosynthetic genes, sidA encoding l-ornithine N(5)-monooxygenase and sidC encoding a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase respectively. Disruption of sidC eliminated synthesis of ferricrocin and deletion of sidA completely blocked siderophore biosynthesis. Siderophore-deficient strains were unable to grow, unless the growth medium was supplemented with siderophores, suggesting that the siderophore system is the major iron assimilatory system of A. nidulans during both iron depleted and iron-replete conditions. Partial restoration of the growth of siderophore-deficient mutants by high concentrations of Fe(2+) (but not Fe(3+)) indicates the presence of an additional ferrous transport system and the absence of an efficient reductive iron assmilatory system. Uptake studies demonstrated that TAFC-bound iron is transferred to cellular ferricrocin whereas ferricrocin is stored after uptake. The siderophore-deficient mutant was able to synthesize ferricrocin from triacetylfusarinine C. Ferricrocin-deficiency caused an increased intracellular labile iron pool, upregulation of antioxidative enzymes and elevated sensitivity to the redox cycler paraquat. This indicates that the lack of this cellular iron storage compound causes oxidative stress. Moreover, ferricrocin biosynthesis was found to be crucial for efficient conidiation.

Fe(III) coordination properties of a new saccharide-based exocyclic trihydroxamate analogue of ferrichrome

The coordination chemistry of a saccharide-based ferrichrome analogue, 1-O-methyl-2,3,4-tris-O-[4-(N-hydroxy-N-methylcarbamoyl)-n-butyrate]-alpha-d-glucopyranoside (H(3)L), is reported, along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous-solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques. The use of a saccharide platform to synthesize a hexadentate trihydroxamic acid chelator provides some advantages over other approaches to ferrichrome models, including significant water solubility and hydrogen-bonding capability of the backbone that can potentially provide favorable receptor recognition and biological activity. The pK(a) values for the hydroxamate moieties were found to be similar to those of other trihydroxamates. Proton-dependent Fe(III)-H(3)L and Fe(II)-H(3)L equilibrium constants were determined using a model involving the sequential protonation of the iron(III)- and iron(II)-ligand complexes. These results were used to calculate the formation constants, log beta(110) = 31.86 for Fe(III)L and 12.1 for Fe(II)L(-). The calculated pFe value of 27.1 indicates that H(3)L possesses an Fe(III) affinity comparable to or greater than those of ferrichrome and other ferrichrome analogues and is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(III) from transferrin. E(1/2) for the Fe(III)L/Fe(II)L(-) couple was determined to be -436 mV from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 9, and the pH-dependent E(1/2) profile was used to determine the Fe(II)L(-) protonation constants.

Ferricrocin--an ectomycorrhizal siderophore of Cenococcum geophilum

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum was grown in low-iron medium and the excreted siderophores were extracted, purified and analyzed by HPLC. The principal hydroxamate siderophore produced, was identified as ferricrocin as confirmed by analytical HPLC, FAB-mass spectrometry and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra. Although the occurrence of ferricrocin has been shown earlier to occur in the ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, this is the first report of ferricrocin in a true ectomycorrhizal fungus which is taxonomically related to the ascomycetes.

Electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry of hydroxamate siderophores

Electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was applied to the detection of the iron complexes of the hydroxamate type siderophores ferrioxamine (FO), ferrichrome (FC) and iron(III) rhodotoluate (FR). Mass spectra of the three siderophores produced by ESI-MS were dominated by the protonated (M + 1)+ parent ions, except for FR at pH 4.3, which was present as the positively charged 1:1 complex. On collision with He ions, fragmentation proceeded largely via cleavage of C-N bonds. Flow injection analysis of the siderophores with detection by ESI-MS produced detection limits of 1.9 fmol for FO, 31.1 fmol for FC and 524 fmol for FR.

Active transport of an antibiotic rifamycin derivative by the outer-membrane protein FhuA

BACKGROUND

FhuA, an integral membrane protein of Escherichia coli, actively transports ferrichrome and the structurally related antibiotic albomycin across the outer membrane. The transport is coupled to the proton motive force, which energizes FhuA through the inner-membrane protein TonB. FhuA also transports the semisynthetic rifamycin derivative CGP 4832, although the chemical structure of this antibiotic differs markedly from that of ferric hydroxamates.

RESULTS

X-ray crystallography revealed that rifamycin CGP 4832 occupies the same ligand binding site as ferrichrome and albomycin, thus demonstrating a surprising lack of selectivity. However, the binding of rifamycin CGP 4832 is deviant from the complexes of FhuA with hydroxamate-type ligands in that it does not result in the unwinding of the switch helix but only in its destabilization, as reflected by increased B factors. Unwinding of the switch helix is proposed to be required for efficient binding of TonB to FhuA and for coupling the proton motive force of the cytoplasmic membrane with energy-dependent ligand transport. The transport data from cells expressing mutant FhuA proteins indicated conserved structural and mechanistic requirements for the transport of both types of compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the binding of rifamycin CGP 4832 destabilizes the switch helix and promotes the formation of a transport-competent FhuA-TonB complex, albeit with lower efficiency than ferrichrome. Active transport of this rifamycin derivative explains the 200-fold increase in potency as compared to rifamycin, which is not a FhuA-specific ligand and permeates across the cell envelope by passive diffusion only.

Crystal structure of the antibiotic albomycin in complex with the outer membrane transporter FhuA

One alternative method for drug delivery involves the use of siderophore-antibiotic conjugates. These compounds represent a specific means by which potent antimicrobial agents, covalently linked to iron-chelating siderophores, can be actively transported across the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. These "Trojan Horse" antibiotics may prove useful as an efficient means to combat multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections. Here we present the crystallographic structures of the natural siderophore-antibiotic conjugate albomycin and the siderophore phenylferricrocin, in complex with the active outer membrane transporter FhuA from Escherichia coli. To our knowledge, this represents the first structure of an antibiotic bound to its cognate transporter. Albomycins are broad-host range antibiotics that consist of a hydroxamate-type iron-chelating siderophore, and an antibiotically active, thioribosyl pyrimidine moiety. As observed with other hydroxamate-type siderophores, the three-dimensional structure of albomycin reveals an identical coordination geometry surrounding the ferric iron atom. Unexpectedly, this antibiotic assumes two conformational isomers in the binding site of FhuA, an extended and a compact form. The structural information derived from this study provides novel insights into the diverse array of antibiotic moieties that can be linked to the distal portion of iron-chelating siderophores and offers a structural platform for the rational design of hydroxamate-type siderophore-antibiotic conjugates.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a carbocyclic azanoraristeromycin siderophore conjugate

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a carbocyclic azanoraristeromycin siderophore conjugate 22 is reported. Coupling of previously prepared L-alanyl-4'-azanoraristeromycin 19 with protected tripeptide trihydroxamate 20, followed by hydrogenolytic removal of all protecting groups, provided the first carbocylic azanoraristeromycin siderophore conjugate (22, 8 with iron). Compounds 19 and 22 showed inhibitory activity against tumor cells, and conjugate 22, in particular, displayed significant activity against those viruses (i.e. reo, parainfluenza, vaccinia, cytomegalo) that are known to be inhibited by S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitors.

Modular fluorescent-labeled siderophore analogues

Biomimetic analogues 1 of the microbial siderophore (iron carrier) ferrichrome were labeled via piperazine with various fluorescent markers at a site not interfering with iron binding or receptor recognition (compounds 10-12). These iron carriers were built from a tetrahedral carbon symmetrically extended with three strands, each containing an amino acid (G = glycyl, A = alanyl, L = leucyl and P = phenylalanyl) and terminated by a hydroxamic acid, which together define an octahedral iron-binding domain. A fourth exogenous strand provided the site for connecting various fluorescent markers via a short bifunctional linker. Iron(III) titrations, along with fluorescence spectroscopy, generated quenching of fluorescence emission of some of the probes used. The quenching process fits the Perrin model which reinforces the intramolecular quenching process, postulated previously.1 All tested compounds, regardless of their probe size, polarity, or the linker binding them to the siderophore analogue, promote growth of Pseudomonas putida with the same efficacy as the nonlabeled analogues 1, with the added benefit of signaling microbial activity by fluorescence emission. All G derivatives of compounds 10-12 were found to parallel the behavior of natural ferrichrome, whereas A derivatives mediated only a modest iron(III) uptake by P. putida. Incubation of various Pseudomonas strains with iron(III)-loaded G derivatives resulted in the build-up of the labels' fluorescence in the culture medium to a much larger extent than from the corresponding A derivatives. The fluorescence buildup corresponds to iron utilization by the cells and the release of the fluorescent labeled desferrisiderophore from the cell to the media. The fact that the microbial activity of these compounds is not altered by attachment of various fluorescent markers via a bifunctional linker proposes their application as diagnostic tools for detecting and identifying pathogenic microorganisms.

Production of the phytotoxic metabolite, ferricrocin, by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

A siderophore was isolated as a non-specific phytotoxic compound from a culture of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolated from infected blackberry. This siderophore was identified as ferricrocin by NMR, IR, MS, and CD spectra. The phytotoxic activities of ferricrocin and deferriferricrocin were compared.

Synthesis and siderophore and antibacterial activity of N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine-derived siderophore-beta-lactam conjugates: iron-transport-mediated drug delivery

N5-Acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithyl-N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithyl-N5-acety l- N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine, the functionally instrumental component of the albomycins and ferrichromes, has been incorporated as a "carrier" substructure into both carbacephalosporin and oxamazin type beta-lactam antibiotics. The previously synthesized protected version of this tripeptide (14) was coupled with various beta-lactam analogues 17, 19, 24, and 25 to give protected conjugates 21, 22, 26, and 27. Final deprotection by hydrogenolysis provided the deprotected siderophore-beta-lactam antibiotic conjugates 1-4. The growth-promoting ability of each has been evaluated using either the siderophore-deficient mutant Shigella flexneri SA 100 or S. flexneri SA240 (SA 100 iucD:Tn5). Measurement of the growth-promoting activity using two isogenic Escherichia coli strains differing only in the presence or absence of fhuA (hydroxamate ferrichrome receptor) suggests uptake by the hydroxamate iron-transport system. The antibacterial activity of these conjugates has been investigated, and the potential for use of the ferrichrome iron-transport system as a means of drug delivery is discussed.

Synthesis and siderophore activity of albomycin-like peptides derived from N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine

N5-Acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine (1), the key constituent of several microbial siderophores, has been synthesized in 23% yield overall from N-Cbz-L-glutamic acid 1-tert-butyl ester (6) derived from L-glutamic acid. Reduction of 6 to 7 and treatment with N-[(trichloroethoxy)carbonyl]-O-benzylhydroxylamine (8), and diethyl azodicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine followed by deprotection produced the protected N5-acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine derivatives 11 and 12 in large quantities (10-20 g). Following alpha-amino and alpha-carboxyl deprotections of 11 and 12, EEDQ [2-ethoxy-N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,2-dihydroquinoline] mediated peptide coupling and final deprotection provided amino acid 1 and six albomycin-like peptides (20, 23, 25, 28, 35, and 36). The growth-promoting ability of each was evaluated with the siderophore biosynthesis mutant Shigella flexneri SA240 (SA 100 iucD:Tn5). These results indicate that substantial modification of the framework of peptide-based siderophores can be tolerated by microbial iron-transport systems.

The design, synthesis and study of siderophore-antibiotic conjugates. Siderophore mediated drug transport

The use of conjugates of microbial iron chelators (siderophores) and antibiotics for illicit transport of antibiotics into cells is a potentially powerful method for the rational design of therapeutic agents. The structural complexity of most natural siderophores has impeded progress in this area. Described here are the design, syntheses and preliminary biological studies of several siderophore-beta-lactam antibiotic conjugates. Both hydroxamic-acid-based and catechol-based conjugates with and without amino acid spacers to carbacephalosporins were synthesized and demonstrated to be effective inhibitors of Escherichia coli X580. Mutant selection was noted for each class of conjugates. Mutants selected from exposure of the E. coli to the hydroxamate conjugates were susceptible to the catechol conjugates and vice versa. Combinations of hydroxamate- and catechol-carbacephalosporin conjugates were most effective inhibitors of E. coli X580.

Structure and molecular mechanics of ferrirhodin

C41H64FeN9O17.7 1/2H2O, Mr = 1146.0, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 9.740 (7), b = 16.764 (10), c = 32.632 (17) A, V = 5328 (6) A3, Z = 4, D chi = 1.43 g cm-3, Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 3.26 cm-1, F(000) = 2428, T = 138 (2) K, R = 0.0986 for 3543 observed reflections. Ferrirhodin, a ferrichrome siderophore (iron transport agent) was isolated from low-iron cultures of Aspergillus versicolor and A. nidulans. The compound is isomeric with another microbial siderophore, ferrirubin, but is different in having cis, rather than trans, anhydromevalonic acid as acyl groups. The conformation of the molecular backbone and iron coordination geometry compares well with ferrirubin and other ferrichrome structures. The differences between the acyl groups of ferrirubin and ferrirhodin are explored using molecular-mechanics modeling.

The solution conformations of ferrichrome and deferriferrichrome determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and computational modeling

We have applied computational procedures that utilize nmr data to model the solution conformation of ferrichrome, a rigid microbial iron transport cyclohexapeptide of known x-ray crystallographic structure [D. van der Helm et al. (1980) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102, 4224-4231]. The Al3+ and Ga3+ diamagnetic analogues, alumichrome and gallichrome, dissolved in d6-dimethylsulfoxide (d6-DMSO), were investigated via one- and two-dimensional 1H-nmr spectroscopy at 300, 600, and 620 MHz. Interproton distance constraints derived from proton Overhauser experiments were input to a distance geometry algorithm [T. F. Havel and K. Wüthrich (1984) Bull. Math. Biol. 46, 673-691] in order to generate a family of ferrichrome structures consistent with the experimental data. These models were subsequently optimized through restrained molecular dynamics/energy minimization [B. R. Brooks et al. (1983) J. Comp. Chem. 4, 187-217]. The resulting structures were characterized in terms of relative energies and conformational properties. Computations based on integration of the generalized Bloch equations for the complete molecule, which include the 14N-1H dipolar interaction, demonstrate that the x-ray coordinates reproduce the experimental nuclear Overhauser effect time courses very well, and indicate that there are no significant differences between the crystalline and solution conformations of ferrichrome. A similar study of the metal free peptide, deferriferrichrome, suggests that at least two conformers are present in d6-DMSO at 23 degrees C. Both are different from the ferrichrome structure and explain, through conformational averaging, the observed amide NH and CH alpha multiplet splittings. The occurrence of interconverting peptide backbone conformations yields an increased number of sequential NH-CH alpha and NH-NH Overhauser connectivities, which reflects the mean value of r-6 dependence of the dipolar interaction. Our results support the idea that, in the case of structurally rigid peptides, moderately accurate distance constraints define a conformational subspace encompassing the "true" structure, and that energy considerations reduce the size of this subspace. For flexible peptides, however, the straight-forward approach can be misleading since the nmr parameters are averaged over substantially different conformational states.