Siderophore-mediated uptake of iron in Azotobacter vinelandii

Azotobacter vinelandii produces two siderophores, N,N'-bis-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-L-lysine (azotochelin) and a yellow-green fluorescent peptide (azotobactin), under iron-limited growth conditions. 55Fe uptake was not observed until the substantial nonspecific binding of 55Fe to the cell surface was eliminated by the addition of 10 mM sodium citrate to the uptake medium. Citrate alone did not promote rapid 55Fe uptake in A. vinelandii, nor did it induce Fe-repressible outer membrane proteins. Siderophore-mediated 55Fe uptake appeared biphasic, with both the initial rapid and ensuing slower uptake being energy dependent. The purified siderophores demonstrated the same uptake pattern as the Fe-limited culture supernatant fluid, but either individually or in combination accounted for less than the total 55Fe uptake activity found in the latter. The purified siderophores appeared to be sensitive to acid, but the inhibition of 55Fe uptake was in fact caused by salt generated during neutralization. Similar 60% inhibition of 55Fe uptake activity was caused by the addition of 40 mM Na+, K+, Li+, or Mg2+ salts to the uptake medium. Ammonium was less inhibitory than the latter ions. 55Fe uptake mediated by azotobactin was more sensitive to added NaCl than was that mediated by azotochelin. Neither the chelation of iron nor the stability of the ferrisiderophore was affected by added NaCl.