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Fungal siderophore biosynthesis is partially localized in peroxisomes

Mario Gründlinger1, Sabiha Yasmin, Beatrix Elisabeth Lechner

  • 1Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 80-82, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Molecular Microbiology
|April 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Fungal siderophore biosynthesis, crucial for iron acquisition, is localized to peroxisomes. This study reveals conserved peroxisomal targeting signals in key enzymes, highlighting a novel metabolic role for peroxisomes in fungi.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Siderophores are essential for iron metabolism and fungal virulence.
  • Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans utilize triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) for iron acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of peroxisomes in fungal siderophore biosynthesis.
  • To identify and characterize the localization and function of TAFC biosynthetic enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagging of TAFC biosynthetic enzymes (SidI, SidH, SidF) in Aspergillus fumigatus.
  • Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans mutants deficient in peroxisomal biogenesis, ATP import, or protein import.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of conserved peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS) in fungal siderophore biosynthetic enzymes.

Main Results:

  • TAFC biosynthetic enzymes SidI, SidH, and SidF were localized to peroxisomes in Aspergillus fumigatus.
  • Elimination of peroxisomal targeting signals impaired enzyme localization and TAFC biosynthesis.
  • Cytosolic mislocalization of TAFC enzymes in Aspergillus nidulans mutants impaired TAFC production.
  • Conserved PTS motifs were identified in fungal orthologues of SidF, SidH, and SidI.
  • The SidI orthologue in Neurospora crassa was also confirmed to be peroxisomal.

Conclusions:

  • This study identifies a novel, evolutionarily conserved metabolic function of peroxisomes in fungal siderophore biosynthesis.
  • Peroxisomal compartmentalization of TAFC biosynthesis is crucial for iron acquisition in fungi.

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