Xanthoferrin is an
α-hydroxycarboxylate-type of
siderophore
Siderophores (Greek: "iron carrier") are small, high-affinity iron- chelating compounds that are secreted by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. They help the organism accumulate iron. Although a widening range of siderophore functions is n ...
produced by
xanthomonads. ''
Xanthomonas
''Xanthomonas'' (from greek: ''xanthos'' – "yellow"; ''monas'' – "entity") is a genus of bacteria, many of which cause plant pathology, plant diseases. There are at least 27 plant associated ''Xanthomonas spp.'', that all together infect at l ...
'' spp. secrete xanthoferrin to
chelate
Chelation () is a type of bonding of ions and their molecules to metal ions. It involves the formation or presence of two or more separate coordinate bonds between a polydentate (multiple bonded) ligand and a single central metal atom. These l ...
iron
Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...
under low-iron conditions.
The xanthoferrin siderophore mediated iron uptake supports bacterial growth under iron-restricted environment.
Origin
The xanthoferrin term was coined first time for the unique siderophore produced by ''Xanthomonas'' ''campestris'' pv. campestris 8004, a member of ''
Xanthomonas
''Xanthomonas'' (from greek: ''xanthos'' – "yellow"; ''monas'' – "entity") is a genus of bacteria, many of which cause plant pathology, plant diseases. There are at least 27 plant associated ''Xanthomonas spp.'', that all together infect at l ...
'' group of plant pathogens.
Xanthoferrin producing organisms
The xanthoferrin siderophores are reportedly produced by ''Xanthomonas'' ''campestris'' pathovars, ''Xanthomonas'' ''orayzae'' pv. oryzae, ''Xanthomonas'' ''citri'' pathovars, and ''Xanthomonas'' ''oryzae'' pv. oryzicola.
However, the xanthoferrin synthesis genes are conserved throughout the members of ''
Xanthomonas
''Xanthomonas'' (from greek: ''xanthos'' – "yellow"; ''monas'' – "entity") is a genus of bacteria, many of which cause plant pathology, plant diseases. There are at least 27 plant associated ''Xanthomonas spp.'', that all together infect at l ...
'' group of plant pathogens and several other bacteria like ''Vibrio'' spp. but the xanthoferrin or similar siderophores productions in many of them are yet to be investigated.
Role of xanthoferrin in virulence
The role of xanthoferrin in virulence varies among different ''Xanthomonas'' spp. Xanthoferrin mediated iron uptake contributes to the optimum virulence of ''Xanthomonas oryzicola'' and ''Xanthomonas campestris'' on their respective hosts but does not play any role in the virulence of ''Xanthomonas oryzae''.
References
{{reflist
Siderophores
Alpha hydroxy acids