title: A bacterial homologue of the human iron exporter ferroportin.
abstract: A bacterial homologue of the human iron exporter ferroportin found in the predatory Gram-negative bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus has been investigated. Molecular modelling, expression in recombinant form and iron binding and transport assays demonstrate that B. bacteriovorus ferroportin (bdFpn) is indeed an orthologue of human ferroportin. Key residues corresponding to those essential for iron binding and transport in human ferroportin are conserved in the bacterial homologue and are predicted to be correctly clustered in the central cavity of the protein. Mutation of these residues grossly affects the iron binding and transport ability of bdFpn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Carmela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi di Patti
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Roma Tre Section, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: fabio.polticelli@uniroma3.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Polticelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tortosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Antonio
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Furbetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Italy. Electronic address: musci@unimol.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musci
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001501:Bdellovibrio; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021381:Protein Transport; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000098742:Ferroportin
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D000098742:Ferroportin; D007501:Iron
keywords: Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus; Ferroportin; Iron; Major facilitator superfamily