title: IsdB-dependent hemoglobin binding is required for acquisition of heme by Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogen responsible for tremendous morbidity and mortality. As with most bacteria, S. aureus requires iron to cause disease, and it can acquire iron from host hemoglobin. The current model for staphylococcal hemoglobin-iron acquisition proposes that S. aureus binds hemoglobin through the surface-exposed hemoglobin receptor IsdB. IsdB removes heme from bound hemoglobin and transfers this cofactor to other proteins of the Isd system, which import and degrade heme to release iron in the cytoplasm. Here we demonstrate that the individual components of the Isd system are required for growth on low nanomolar concentrations of hemoglobin as a sole source of iron. An in-depth study of hemoglobin binding by IsdB revealed key residues that are required for hemoglobin binding. Further, we show that these residues are necessary for heme extraction from hemoglobin and growth on hemoglobin as a sole iron source. These processes are found to contribute to the pathogenicity of S. aureus in a murine model of infection. Together these results build on the model for Isd-mediated hemoglobin binding and heme-iron acquisition during the pathogenesis of S. aureus infection.
authors: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors: Gleb
authors: G
authors: Pishchany
authors: Jessica R
authors: JR
authors: Sheldon
authors: Claire F
authors: CF
authors: Dickson
authors: Md Tauqeer
authors: MT
authors: Alam
authors: Timothy D
authors: TD
authors: Read
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Gell
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Heinrichs
authors: Eric P
authors: EP
authors: Skaar
mesh_terms: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; C510010:IsdB protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D006418:Heme
keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; heme; hemoglobin; infection; iron; iron-regulated surface determinant system; pathogenesis