Involvement of Vulnibactin and Exocellular Protease in Utilization of Transferrin- and Lactoferrin-Bound Iron by Vibrio vulnificus

Noriyuki Okujo; Toshihito Akiyama; Shin-ichi Miyoshi; Sumio Shinoda; Shigeo Yamamoto

Involvement of Vulnibactin and Exocellular Protease in Utilization of Transferrin- and Lactoferrin-Bound Iron by Vibrio vulnificus

Noriyuki Okujo, Toshihito Akiyama, Shin-ichi Miyoshi, Sumio Shinoda, Shigeo Yamamoto

Author information

Keywords: Vibrio vulnificus, Iron assimilation, Siderophore, Exocellular protease

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1996 Volume 40 Issue 8 Pages 595-598

Details

Abstract

In vitro growth experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of vulnibactin, a siderophore produced by Vibrio vulnificus, to sequester transferrin- or lactoferrin-bound iron for growth. Comparative studies with the strain producing vulnibactin and its exocellular protease-deficient mutant revealed the involvement of the protease in addition to vulnibactin in effective utilization of iron ion (Fe³⁺) bound to transferrin and lactoferrin. It appears that the protease causes cleavage of these proteins, thereby making bound iron more accessible to vulnibactin.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!