C-Diazeniumdiolate Graminine in the Siderophore Gramibactin Is Photoreactive and Originates from Arginine.

Siderophores are synthesized by microbes to facilitate iron acquisition required for growth. Catecholate, hydroxamate, and α-hydroxycarboxylate groups comprise well-established ligands coordinating Fe(III) in siderophores. Recently, a C-type diazeniumdiolate ligand in the newly identified amino acid graminine (Gra) was found in the siderophore gramibactin (Gbt) produced by Paraburkholderia graminis DSM 17151. The N-N bond in the diazeniumdiolate is a distinguishing feature of Gra, yet the origin and reactivity of this C-type diazeniumdiolate group has remained elusive until now. Here, we identify l-arginine as the direct precursor to l-Gra through the isotopic labeling of l-Arg, l-ornithine, and l-citrulline. Furthermore, these isotopic labeling studies establish that the N-N bond in Gra must be formed between the Nδ and Nω of the guanidinium group in l-Arg. We also show the diazeniumdiolate groups in apo-Gbt are photoreactive, with loss of nitric oxide (NO) and H+ from each d-Gra yielding E/Z oxime isomers in the photoproduct. With the loss of Gbt's ability to chelate Fe(III) upon exposure to UV light, our results hint at this siderophore playing a larger ecological role. Not only are NO and oximes important in plant biology for communication and defense, but so too are NO-releasing compounds and oximes attractive in medicinal applications.

A suite of asymmetric citrate siderophores isolated from a marine Shewanella species.

Woodybactins A-D are a suite of new fatty acyl siderophores produced by the luminous marine bacterium Shewanella woodyi MS32. While this bacterium has a set of genes homologous to the biosynthetic gene cluster for aerobactin, aerobactin is not produced. The arrangement of these genes within the genome differs in S. woodyi MS32 when compared to E. coli and other species producing siderophores similar to aerobactin, and one synthetase gene which would append a second acyl-hydroxylysine to the terminal carboxylate of citrate is not functional. Within the suite of woodybactins A-D, which differ by the fatty acid appendage, one contains an unusual C9 (9:0) fatty acid and one contains a unique branched C9 iso (9:0 iso) fatty acid, as well as a C8 (8:0) and C10 (10:0) fatty acid.