title: Diversity of siderophore genes encoding biosynthesis of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in Aeromonas spp.
abstract: Most species of the genus Aeromonas produce the siderophore amonabactin, although two species produce enterobactin, the siderophore of many enteric bacteria. Both siderophores contain 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB). Siderophore genes (designated aebC, -E, -B and -A, for aeromonad enterobactin biosynthesis) that complemented mutations in the enterobactin genes of the Escherichia coli 2,3-DHB operon, entCEBA(P15), were cloned from an enterobactin-producing isolate of the Aeromonas spp. Mapping of the aeromonad genes suggested a gene order of aebCEBA, identical to that of the E. coli 2,3-DHB operon. Gene probes for the aeromonad aebCE genes and for amoA (the entC-equivalent gene previously cloned from an amonabactin-producing Aeromonas spp.) did not cross-hybridize. Gene probes for the E. coli 2,3-DHB genes entCEBA did not hybridize with Aeromonas spp. DNA. Therefore, in the genus Aeromonas, 2,3-DHB synthesis is encoded by two distinct gene groups; one (amo) is present in the amonabactin-producers, while the other (aeb) occurs in the enterobactin-producers. Each of these systems differs from (but is functionally related to) the E. coli 2,3-DHB operon. These genes may have diverged from an ancestral group of 2,3-DHB genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massad
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arceneaux
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000333:Aeromonas / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004758:Enterobactin / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D017262:Siderophores / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D017262:Siderophores; D004758:Enterobactin; C009135:2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid