Special conditions allow binding of the siderophore salmochelin to siderocalin (NGAL-lipocalin)

Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Utilizes Surface-Located Elongation Factor G to Acquire Iron from Holo-Transferrin

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) can cause systemic infections in both humans and animals. As an essential nutrient, iron is strictly sequestered by the host. Circumventing iron sequestration is a determinant factor for ExPEC infection. However, the ExPEC iron acquisition mechanism, particularly the mechanism of transferrin (TF) acquisition, remains unclear. This study reports that iron-saturated holo-TF can be utilized by ExPEC to promote its growth in culture medium and survival in macrophages. ExPEC specifically bound to holo-TF instead of iron-free apo-TF via the surface located elongation factor G (EFG) in both culture medium and macrophages. As a moonlighting protein, EFG specifically bound holo-TF and also released iron in TF. These two functions were performed by different domains of EFG, in which the N-terminal domains were responsible for holo-TF binding and the C-terminal domains were responsible for iron release. The functions of EFG and its domains have also been further confirmed by surface-display vectors. The surface overexpression of EFG bound significantly more holo-TF in macrophages and significantly improved bacterial intracellular survival ability. Our findings reveal a novel iron acquisition mechanism involving EFG, which suggests novel research avenues into the molecular mechanism of ExPEC resistance to nutritional immunity. IMPORTANCE Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is an important pathogen causing systemic infections in humans and animals. The competition for iron between ExPEC and the host is a determinant for ExPEC to establish a successful infection. Here, we sought to elucidate the role of transferrin (TF) in the interaction between ExPEC and the host. Our results revealed that holo-TF could be utilized by ExPEC to enhance its growth in culture medium and survival in macrophages. Furthermore, the role of elongation factor G (EFG), a novel holo-TF-binding and TF-iron release protein, was confirmed in this study. Our work provides insights into the iron acquisition mechanism of ExPEC, deepens understanding of the interaction between holo-TF and pathogens, and broadens further researches into the molecular mechanism of ExPEC pathogenicity.

Advances in the Synthesis of Enterobactin, Artificial Analogues, and Enterobactin-Derived Antimicrobial Drug Conjugates and Imaging Tools for Infection Diagnosis

Iron is an essential growth factor for bacteria, but although highly abundant in nature, its bioavailability during infection in the human host or the environment is limited. Therefore, bacteria produce and secrete siderophores to ensure their supply of iron. The triscatecholate siderophore enterobactin and its glycosylated derivatives, the salmochelins, play a crucial role for iron acquisition in several bacteria. As these compounds can serve as carrier molecules for the design of antimicrobial siderophore drug conjugates as well as siderophore-derived tool compounds for the detection of infections with bacteria, their synthesis and the design of artificial analogues is of interest. In this review, we give an overview on the synthesis of enterobactin, biomimetic as well as totally artificial analogues, and related drug-conjugates covering up to 12/2021.

1 Introduction

2 Antibiotic Crisis and Sideromycins as Natural Templates for New Antimicrobial Drugs

3 Biosynthesis of Enterobactin, Salmochelins, and Microcins

4 Total Synthesis of Enterobactin and Salmochelins

5 Chemoenzymatic Semi-synthesis of Salmochelins and Microcin E492m Derivatives

6 Synthesis of Biomimetic Enterobactin Derivatives with Natural Tris-lactone Backbone

7 Synthesis of Artificial Enterobactin Derivatives without Tris-lactone Backbone

8 Conclusions

Iron Transport and Metabolism in Escherichia, Shigella, and Salmonella

Iron is an essential element for Escherichia, Salmonella, and Shigella species. The acquisition of sufficient amounts of iron is difficult in many environments, including the intestinal tract, where these bacteria usually reside. Members of these genera have multiple iron transport systems to transport both ferrous and ferric iron. These include transporters for free ferrous iron, ferric iron associated with chelators, and heme. The numbers and types of transport systems in any species reflect the diversity of niches that it can inhabit. Many of the iron transport genes are found on mobile genetic elements or pathogenicity islands, and there is evidence of the spread of the genes among different species and pathotypes. This is notable among the pathogenic members of the genera in which iron transport systems acquired by horizontal gene transfer allow the bacteria to overcome host innate defenses that act to restrict the availability of iron to the pathogen. The need for iron is balanced by the need to avoid iron overload since excess iron is toxic to the cell. Genes for iron transport and metabolism are tightly regulated and respond to environmental cues, including iron availability, oxygen, and temperature. Master regulators, the iron sensor Fur and the Fur-regulated small RNA (sRNA) RyhB, coordinate the expression of iron transport and cellular metabolism genes in response to the availability of iron.

Enterobactin induces the chemokine, interleukin-8, from intestinal epithelia by chelating intracellular iron

Iron is an indispensable nutrient for both mammals and microbes. Bacteria synthesize siderophores to sequester host iron, whereas lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is the host defense protein that prevent this iron thievery. Enterobactin (Ent) is a catecholate-type siderophore that has one of the strongest known affinities for iron. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are adjacent to large microbial population and are in contact with microbial products, including Ent. We undertook this study to investigate whether a single stimulus of Ent could affect IEC functions. Using three human IEC cell-lines with differential basal levels of Lcn2 (i.e. HT29 < DLD-1 < Caco-2/BBe), we demonstrated that iron-free Ent could induce a dose-dependent secretion of the pro-inflammatory chemokine, interleukin 8 (IL-8), in HT29 and DLD-1 IECs, but not in Caco-2/BBe. Ent-induced IL-8 secretion was dependent on chelation of the labile iron pool and on the levels of intracellular Lcn2. Accordingly, IL-8 secretion by Ent-treated HT29 cells could be substantially inhibited by either saturating Ent with iron or by adding exogenous Lcn2 to the cells. IL-8 production by Ent could be further potentiated when co-stimulated with other microbial products (i.e. flagellin, lipopolysaccharide). Water-soluble microbial siderophores did not induce IL-8 production, which signifies that IECs are specifically responding to the lipid-soluble Ent. Intriguingly, formyl peptide receptor (FPR) antagonists (i.e. Boc2, cyclosporine H) abrogated Ent-induced IL-8, implicating that such IEC response could be, in part, dependent on FPR. Taken together, these results demonstrate that IECs sense Ent as a danger signal, where its recognition results in IL-8 secretion.

A Glance on the Role of Bacterial Siderophore from the Perspectives of Medical and Biotechnological Approaches

Iron, which is described as the most basic component found in nature, is hard to be assimilated by microorganisms. It has become increasingly complicated to obtain iron from nature as iron (II) in the presence of oxygen oxidized to press (III) oxide and hydroxide, becoming unsolvable at neutral pH. Microorganisms appeared to produce organic molecules known as siderophores in order to overcome this condition. Siderophore's essential function is to connect with iron (II) and make it dissolvable and enable cell absorption. These siderophores, apart from iron particles, have the ability to chelate various other metal particles that have collocated away to focus the use of siderophores on wound care items. There is a severe clash between the host and the bacterial pathogens during infection. By producing siderophores, small ferric iron-binding molecules, microorganisms obtain iron. In response, host immune cells produce lipocalin 2 to prevent bacterial reuptake of siderophores loaded with iron. Some bacteria are thought to produce lipocalin 2-resistant siderophores to counter this risk. The aim of this article is to discuss the recently described roles and applications of bacterial siderophore.

The Three Lipocalins of Egg-White: Only Ex-FABP Inhibits Siderophore-Dependent Iron Sequestration by Salmonella Enteritidis

Salmonella Enteritidis is the most prevalent food-borne pathogen associated with egg-related outbreaks in the European Union. During egg colonization, S. Enteritidis must resist the powerful anti-bacterial activities of egg white (EW) and overcome ovotransferrin-imposed iron-restriction (the most important anti-bacterial mechanism of EW). Many pathogens respond to iron restriction by secreting iron-chelating chemicals called siderophores but EW contains a siderophore-sequestering "lipocalin" protein (Ex-FABP) that is predicted to limit the usefulness of siderophores in EW. S. Enteritidis produces two siderophores: enterobactin, which is strongly bound by Ex-FABP; and the di-glucosylated enterobactin-derivative, salmochelin (a so-called "stealth" siderophore), which is not recognized by Ex-FABP. Thus, production of salmochelin may allow S. Enteritidis to escape Ex-FABP-mediated growth inhibition under iron restriction although it is unclear whether its EW concentration is sufficient to inhibit pathogens. Further, two other lipocalins (Cal-γ and α-1-ovoglycoprotein) are found in EW but their siderophore sequestration potential remains unexplored. In addition, the effect of EW lipocalins on the major EW pathogen, S. Enteritidis, has yet to be reported. We overexpressed and purified the three lipocalins of EW and investigated their ability to interact with the siderophores of S. Enteritidis, as well as their EW concentrations. The results show that Ex-FABP is present in EW at concentrations (5.1 μM) sufficient to inhibit growth of a salmochelin-deficient S. Enteritidis mutant under iron restriction but has little impact on the salmochelin-producing wildtype. Neither Cal-γ nor α-1-ovoglycoprotein bind salmochelin or enterobactin, nor do they inhibit iron-restricted growth of S. Enteritidis. However, both are present in EW at significant concentrations (5.6 and 233 μM, respectively) indicating that α-1-ovoglycoprotein is the 4th most abundant protein in EW, with Cal-γ and Ex-FABP at 11th and 12th most abundant. Further, we confirm the preference (16-fold) of Ex-FABP for the ferrated form (K d of 5.3 nM) of enterobactin over the iron-free form (K d of 86.2 nM), and its lack of affinity for salmochelin. In conclusion, our findings show that salmochelin production by S. Enteritidis enables this key egg-associated pathogen to overcome the enterobactin-sequestration activity of Ex-FABP when this lipocalin is provided at levels found in EW.

The Role of Iron and Siderophores in Infection, and the Development of Siderophore Antibiotics

Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, replication, and metabolism. Humans store iron bound to various proteins such as hemoglobin, haptoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, and lactoferrin, limiting the availability of free iron for pathogenic bacteria. However, bacteria have developed various mechanisms to sequester or scavenge iron from the host environment. Iron can be taken up by means of active transport systems that consist of bacterial small molecule siderophores, outer membrane siderophore receptors, the TonB-ExbBD energy-transducing proteins coupling the outer and the inner membranes, and inner membrane transporters. Some bacteria also express outer membrane receptors for iron-binding proteins of the host and extract iron directly from these for uptake. Ultimately, iron is acquired and transported into the bacterial cytoplasm. The siderophores are small molecules produced and released by nearly all bacterial species and are classified according to the chemical nature of their iron-chelating group (ie, catechol, hydroxamate, α-hydroxyl-carboxylate, or mixed types). Siderophore-conjugated antibiotics that exploit such iron-transport systems are under development for the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Despite demonstrating high in vitro potency against pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria, further development of several candidates had stopped due to apparent adaptive resistance during exposure, lack of consistent in vivo efficacy, or emergence of side effects in the host. However, cefiderocol, with an optimized structure, has advanced and has been investigated in phase 1 to 3 clinical trials. This article discusses the mechanisms implicated in iron uptake and the challenges associated with the design and utilization of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics.

The anti-bacterial iron-restriction defence mechanisms of egg white; the potential role of three lipocalin-like proteins in resistance against Salmonella

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is the most frequently-detected Salmonella in foodborne outbreaks in the European Union. Among such outbreaks, egg and egg products were identified as the most common vehicles of infection. Possibly, the major antibacterial property of egg white is iron restriction, which results from the presence of the iron-binding protein, ovotransferrin. To circumvent iron restriction, SE synthesise catecholate siderophores (i.e. enterobactin and salmochelin) that can chelate iron from host iron-binding proteins. Here, we highlight the role of lipocalin-like proteins found in egg white that could enhance egg-white iron restriction through sequestration of certain siderophores, including enterobactin. Indeed, it is now apparent that the egg-white lipocalin, Ex-FABP, can inhibit bacterial growth via its siderophore-binding capacity in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether Ex-FABP performs such a function in egg white or during bird infection. Regarding the two other lipocalins of egg white (Cal-γ and α-1-glycoprotein), there is currently no evidence to indicate that they sequester siderophores.

Universal fluorescent sensors of high-affinity iron transport, applied to ESKAPE pathogens

Sensitive assays of biochemical specificity, affinity, and capacity are valuable both for basic research and drug discovery. We created fluorescent sensors that monitor high-affinity binding reactions and used them to study iron acquisition by ESKAPE bacteria, which are frequently responsible for antibiotic-resistant infections. By introducing site-directed Cys residues in bacterial iron transporters and modifying them with maleimide fluorophores, we generated living cells or purified proteins that bind but do not transport target compounds. These constructs sensitively detected ligand concentrations in solution, enabling accurate, real-time spectroscopic analysis of membrane transport by other cells. We assessed the efficacy of these "fluorescent decoy" (FD) sensors by characterizing active iron transport in the ESKAPE bacteria. The FD sensors monitored uptake of both ferric siderophores and hemin by the pathogens. An FD sensor for a particular ligand was universally effective in observing the uptake of that compound by all organisms we tested. We adapted the FD sensors to microtiter format, where they allow high-throughput screens for chemicals that block iron uptake, without genetic manipulations of the virulent target organisms. Hence, screening assays with FD sensors facilitate studies of mechanistic biochemistry, as well as discovery of chemicals that inhibit prokaryotic membrane transport. With appropriate design, FD sensors are potentially applicable to any pro- or eukaryotic high-affinity ligand transport process.

Interdependence between iron acquisition and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacterial biofilms remain a persistent threat to human healthcare due to their role in the development of antimicrobial resistance. To combat multi-drug resistant pathogens, it is crucial to enhance our understanding of not only the regulation of biofilm formation, but also its contribution to bacterial virulence. Iron acquisition lies at the crux of these two subjects. In this review, we discuss the role of iron acquisition in biofilm formation and how hosts impede this mechanism to defend against pathogens. We also discuss recent findings that suggest that biofilm formation can also have the reciprocal effect, influencing siderophore production and iron sequestration.

Biosynthetic considerations of triscatechol siderophores framed on serine and threonine macrolactone scaffolds

Bacteria often produce siderophores to facilitate iron uptake. One of the most studied siderophores is enterobactin, the macrolactone trimer of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl-l-serine, produced by E. coli and many other enteric bacteria. Other siderophores are variants of enterobactin, with structural modifications including expansion of the tri-serine core to a tetra-serine macrolactone, substitution of l-serine with l-threonine, insertion of amino acids (i.e., Gly, l-Ala, d-Lys, d- and l-Arg, l-Orn), catechol glucosylation, and linearization of the tri-serine macrolactone core. In this review we summarize the current understanding of the biosyntheses of these enterobactin variants, placing them in contrast with the well-established biosynthesis of enterobactin.

Anaerobic utilization of Fe(III)-xenosiderophores among Bacteroides species and the distinct assimilation of Fe(III)-ferrichrome by Bacteroides fragilis within the genus

In this study, we show that Bacteroides species utilize Fe(III)-xenosiderophores as the only source of exogenous iron to support growth under iron-limiting conditions in vitro anaerobically. Bacteroides fragilis was the only species able to utilize Fe(III)-ferrichrome while Bacteroides vulgatus ATCC 8482 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI 5482 were able to utilize both Fe(III)-enterobactin and Fe(III)-salmochelin S4 as the only source of iron in a dose-dependent manner. We have investigated the way B. fragilis assimilates Fe(III)-ferrichrome as initial model to understand the utilization of xenosiderophores in anaerobes. B. fragilis contains two outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs), FchA1 and FchA2, which are homologues to Escherichia coli ferrichrome transporter FhuA. The disruption of fchA1 gene had only partial growth defect on Fe(III)-ferrichrome while the fchA2 mutant had no growth defect compared to the parent strain. The genetic complementation of fchA1 gene restored growth to parent strain levels indicating that it plays a role in Fe(III)-ferrichrome assimilation though we cannot rule out some functional overlap in transport systems as B. fragilis contains abundant TBDTs whose functions are yet not understood. However, the growth of B. fragilis on Fe(III)-ferrichrome was abolished in a feoAB mutant indicating that Fe(III)-ferrichrome transported into the periplasmic space was reduced in the periplasm releasing ferrous iron prior to transport through the FeoAB transport system. Moreover, the release of iron from the ferrichrome may be linked to the thiol redox system as the trxB deletion mutant was also unable to grow in the presence of Fe(III)-ferrichrome. The genetic complementation of feoAB and trxB mutants completely restored growth on Fe(III)-ferrichrome. Taken together, these findings show that Bacteroides species have developed mechanisms to utilize ferric iron bound to xenosiderophores under anaerobic growth conditions though the regulation and role in the biology of Bacteroides in the anaerobic intestinal environment remain to be understood.

The Ligands of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin

Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), was originally identified in neutrophil granules as a heterodimer complex with gelatinase B (matrix metalloproteinase 9, MMP9), but more recently has been found to be secreted by damaged epithelial cells. Ngal is a member of the lipocalin family and subsequently named as lipocalin 2 on the basis of structural similarity with other members of the lipocalin family and its potential association with hydrophobic retinol and cholesterol oleate more strongly than their hydrophilic counterparts. In 2002, a landmark paper suggested that Ngal is a bacteriostatic agent which blocks iron acquisition by interacting with a number of bacterial siderophores, especially enterobactin. Since then, more siderophore-carrying functions have been reported than the possibility of hydrophobic ligand transport. In this setting, Ngal was renamed Siderocalin. Functions of siderocalin include not only bacteriostatic activity but potentially as a mediator of cell growth and differentiation; some of these functions appear to be referable to the holo siderocalin:siderophore:iron complex and recent work suggests that metabolic products may act as mammalian siderophores bound by Ngal. While still speculative, it may be that the mammalian siderophores can establish the missing link between Ngal and a number of its functions in vivo. This review provides an overview of the discoveries of the different ligands of Ngal and consequently related functions. Hydrophobic ligands, bacterial siderophores as well as their modified structures (synthetic siderophores), and mammalian siderophores are summarized.

The C-glycosyltransferase IroB from pathogenic Escherichia coli: identification of residues required for efficient catalysis

Escherichia coli C-glycosyltransferase IroB catalyzes the formation of a CC bond between enterobactin and the glucose moiety of UDP-glucose, resulting in the production of mono-, di- and tri-glucosylated enterobactin (MGE, DGE, TGE). To identify catalytic residues, we generated a homology model of IroB from aligned structures of two similar C-glycosyltransferases as templates. Superposition of our homology model onto the structure of a TDP-bound orthologue revealed residue W264 as a possible stabilizer of UDP-glucose. D304 in our model was located near the predicted site of the glucose moiety of UDP-glucose. A loop containing possible catalytic residues (H65, H66, E67) was found at the predicted enterobactin-binding site. We generated IroB variants at positions 65-67, 264, and 304 and investigated variant protein conformations and enzymatic activities. Variants were found to have Tm values similar to wild-type IroB. Fluorescence emission spectra of H65A/H66A, E67A, and D304N were superimposable with wild-type IroB. However, the emission spectrum of W264L was blue-shifted, suggesting solvent exposure of W264. While H65A/H66A retained activity (92% conversion of enterobactin, with MGE as a major product), all other IroB variants were impaired in their abilities to glucosylate enterobactin: E67A catalyzed partial (29%) conversion of enterobactin to MGE; W264L converted 55% of enterobactin to MGE; D304N was completely inactive. Activity-impaired variants were found to bind enterobactin with affinities within 2.5-fold of wild-type IroB. Given our outcomes, we propose that IroB W264 and D304 are required for binding and orienting UDP-glucose, while E67, possibly supported by H65/H66, participates in enterobactin/MGE/DGE deprotonation.

Stored red blood cell transfusions: Iron, inflammation, immunity, and infection

The potential adverse effects of transfusion of red blood cells after prolonged storage have been hotly debated. During refrigerated storage, red blood cells are damaged, a process known as the red blood cell "storage lesion." We hypothesized that the delivery of a bolus of iron derived from these rapidly cleared, damaged, red blood cells is responsible for some of the adverse effects of transfusion. Iron may play a role in producing a pro-inflammatory response to transfused red blood cells, potentially through the effects of reactive oxygen species on stress pathways and inflammasome activation. Furthermore, the excess iron may impair the host's ability to combat infection by its innate iron-withholding pathways. This symposium paper summarizes the background for the "iron hypothesis" as it relates to transfusion of red blood cells after prolonged refrigerated storage. It also includes a summary of the data from recent murine and human studies, and concludes with a discussion of several unresolved questions arising from these published studies.

Lipocalin 2 regulation and its complex role in inflammation and cancer

Lipocalin 2 is a protein that has garnered a great deal of interest in multidisciplinary fields over the last two decades since its discovery. However, its exact function in metabolic processes remains to be completely characterized. More recently, it has come to light as a highly upregulated protein in the setting of injury and infection. This review focuses on lipocalin 2 regulation and its relationship to cytokine and endocrine signaling pathways.

Salmochelin, the long-overlooked catecholate siderophore of Salmonella

Salmochelin is a C-glucosylated enterobactin produced by Salmonella species, uropathogenic and avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, and certain Klebsiella strains. It was the first glucosylated siderophore described. The glucosylation has been interpreted as a bacterial evasion mechanism against the mammalian catecholate siderophore-binding protein siderocalin (NGAL-lipocalin). The synthesis, excretion, and uptake of salmochelin requires five genes, iroBCDEN, and also the enterobactin biosynthesis and utilization system. Some salmochelin-producing strains also secrete microcins, which possess a C-terminal, linear glucosyl-enterobactin moiety. These microcins recognize the catecholate siderophore receptors IroN, Cir, Fiu, and FepA, and may inhibit the growth of competitors for catecholate siderophores.