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Effects of iron-limitation ofEscherichia coli on growth, the respiratory chains and gallium uptake

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Abstract

The effects of iron limitation on growth, the composition and function of the respiratory chains, and gallium uptake inEscherichia coli have been studied. Decreasing the iron concentration in a defined medium using Chelex resin gave lower growth yields in both continuous culture and prolonged batch culture. In the former, ironlimited (entering [Fe]≤2.0 μM) cells exhibited diminished respiration rates, respiration-driven proton translocation quotients, and levels of non-haem iron and cytochromes. The cellular concentration of haemoproteinb-590 (a cytochromea 1-like hydroperoxidase) decreased 20-fold on iron limitation, whilst a CO-binding pigment with an absorption maximum in the dithionite-treated form near 500 nm appeared. Gallium(III) (9 μM) added to iron-limited, but not iron-sufficient, cultures diminished growth yields further; cells grown with low entering concentrations of iron took up less gallium than iron-sufficient cells. These results are attributed to the interference by gallium(III) with siderophore-mediated metal uptake. Gallium also stimulated iron uptake and was itself accumulated by iron-sufficient cells, suggesting that gallium(III) also affects the iron transport system(s) of low affinity.

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Author notes

  1. Julia A. M. Hubbard

    Present address: Centre for Biotechnology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

  2. Krystyna B. Lewandowska

    Present address: School of Chemistry, Kingston Polytechnic, Penrhyn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Kensington Campus, Campden Hill Road, W8 7AH, London, UK

    Julia A. M. Hubbard, Krystyna B. Lewandowska & Martin N. Hughes

  2. Department of Microbiology, King's College London, Kensington Campus, Campden Hill Road, W8 7AH, London, UK

    Julia A. M. Hubbard & Robert K. Poole

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  1. Julia A. M. Hubbard
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  2. Krystyna B. Lewandowska
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  4. Robert K. Poole
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Hubbard, J.A.M., Lewandowska, K.B., Hughes, M.N. et al. Effects of iron-limitation ofEscherichia coli on growth, the respiratory chains and gallium uptake. Arch. Microbiol. 146, 80–86 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690163

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690163

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