title: Effect of iron concentration on siderophore synthesis and pigment production by Candida albicans.
abstract: Twelve strains of Candida albicans were grown in defined medium which had been deferrated by ion-exchange chromatography and then supplemented with FeCl3 to give iron concentrations ranging from 0.026 microM (growth-limiting) to 0.8 microM (excess). All of the strains secreted hydroxamate-type siderophores; phenolate siderophores were not detected. Isolates of C. lusitaniae, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis also secreted hydroxamate but not phenolate-type iron chelators. Siderophore synthesis by C. albicans was maximal during growth in 0.026-0.2 microM iron. These low concentrations of iron also induced the synthesis of a green pigment, with maximal production at 0.026 microM. The pigment could be partially separated from hydroxamate siderophore activity on a column of Sephadex G-10 indicating that it probably does not function as an iron chelator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017262:Siderophores
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D017262:Siderophores; D007501:Iron