Ferricrocin, a siderophore involved in intra- and transcellular iron distribution in Aspergillus fumigatus.
Iron is an essential metal for virtually all organisms. Iron acquisition is well characterized for various organisms, whereas intracellular iron distribution is poorly understood. In contrast to bacteria, plants, and animals, most fungi lack ferritin-mediated iron storage but possess an intracellular siderophore shown to be involved in iron storage. Here we demonstrate that deficiency in the intracellular siderophore ferricrocin causes iron starvation in conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus, demonstrating that ferricrocin is also involved in intra- and transcellular iron distribution. Thus, ferricrocin represents the first intracellular iron transporter identified in any organism.
Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Anja
A
Wallner
Michael
M
Blatzer
Markus
M
Schrettl
Bettina
B
Sarg
Herbert
H
Lindner
Hubertus
H
Haas
D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005291:Ferrichrome / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D017262:Siderophores / Q000378:metabolism*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism
D017262:Siderophores; D005291:Ferrichrome; C021678:ferricrocin; D007501:Iron