Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Essential Metal Uptake in Gram-negative Bacteria: X-ray Fluorescence, Radioisotopes, and Cell Fractionation
Published on: February 1, 2018
A bacterial homologue of the human iron exporter ferroportin
Maria Carmela Bonaccorsi di Patti1, Fabio Polticelli2, Valentina Tortosa3
1Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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.
Related Concept Videos
The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin
Structure of Porins
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
ABC Transporters: Importer
In bacteria, based on the number of transmembrane helices and the chemical nature of their substrates, the ABC importers can be divided into three types:
Microbial Nutrition
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion

