A new ferrous iron‐uptake transporter, EfeU (YcdN), from Escherichia coli
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Escherichia coli possesses multiple routes for iron uptake. Here we present EfeU (YcdN), a novel iron acquisition system of E. coli strain Nissle 1917. Laboratory strains of E. coli such as K12 lack a functional (efeU) ycdN gene caused by a frameshift mutation. EfeU, a member of the oxidase‐dependent iron transporters (OFeT), is a homologue of the iron permease Ftr1p from yeast. The ycdN gene is part of the ycdNOB tricistronic operon which is expressed in response to iron deprivation in a Fur‐dependent manner. Expression of efeU resulted in improved growth of an E. coli mutant lacking all known iron‐uptake systems and mediated increased iron uptake into cells. Furthermore, the presence of other divalent metal cations did not impair growth of strains expressing efeU. The EfeU protein functioned as ferrous iron permease in proteoliposomes in vitro. Topology analysis indicated that EfeU is an integral cytoplasmic membrane protein exhibiting seven transmembrane helices. Two REXXE motifs within transmembrane helices of OFeT family members are implicated in iron translocation. Site‐directed mutagenesis of each REGLE motif of EfeU diminished iron uptake in vivo and growth yield. In vitro the EfeU variant protein with an altered first REGLE motif was impaired in iron permeation, whereas activity of the EfeU variant with a mutation in the second motif was similar to the wild‐type protein.
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E. coli Nissle 1917 has siderophores for iron acquisition.
“having siderophores for iron acquisition (anti-inflammatory and/or fitness factors) [26, 28]”
From Selection, Comparative Genomics, and Potential Probiotic Features of Escherichia coli 5C, a pks-Negative Strain Isolated from Healthy Infant Donor Feces (2026) · cites this paper as [28]
The Introduction (page unavailable) describes siderophore-mediated iron uptake in E. coli, and the section on ycdNOB transcription reports expression of the enterobactin receptor fepA in Nissle 1917. This supports a siderophore-uptake route, but the paper does not establish that Nissle 1917 produces siderophores or that they are anti-inflammatory or fitness factors; its principal finding concerns the distinct ferrous-iron transporter EfeU. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlternative ferrous Fe import systems have been identified, including ZupT, YfeABCD, FutABC and EfeUOB.
“To date, alternative ferrous Fe import systems have been identified, including ZupT, YfeABCD, FutABC and EfeUOB 71-76 .”
From Nutritional immunity: the battle for nutrient metals at the host–pathogen interface (2022) · cites this paper as [75]
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“…(F1C), and in bacterial aggregation (Curli) [26, 27]; (ii) having siderophores for iron acquisition (anti-inflammatory and/or fitness factors) [26, 28]; (iii) having O6 repeating units for LPS (a feature commonly found in extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains), K5-type for capsule…”
- Authors
- Große, C., Scherer, J., Koch, D., Otto, M., Taudte, N., & Grass, G.
- Affiliations
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Grass, Gregor
- ORCID
- Grass, Gregor
- Venue
- Molecular Microbiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-08-29
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 120-131
- ISSN
- 0950-382X (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2958
- OpenAlex
- W2113038756
- Cited by
- 137
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Molecular Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR2061/1-2)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Endocrinology › Escherichia coli research studies
- Keywords
- ferrous iron uptake, iron acquisition, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, Fur regulation, iron starvation, membrane topology, divalent metal cations
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acid Sequence, Biological Transport, Escherichia coli, Iron, Molecular Sequence Data, Operon, Proteolipids, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Membrane Transport Proteins, Cation Transport Proteins, Escherichia coli Proteins
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