ferrichrome
Sign in to saveFerrichrome is a cyclic hexa-peptide that forms a complex with iron atoms. It is a siderophore composed of three glycine and three modified ornithine residues with hydroxamate groups [-N(OH)C(=O)C-]. The 6 oxygen atoms from the three hydroxamate groups bind Fe(III) in near perfect octahedral coordination.
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Biological function
- Uptake
- Siderophore binding
- FhuA uptake mechanism
- See also
- References
Ferrichrome is a cyclic hexa-peptide that forms a complex with iron atoms. It is a siderophore composed of three glycine and three modified ornithine residues with hydroxamate groups [-N(OH)C(=O)C-]. The 6 oxygen atoms from the three hydroxamate groups bind Fe(III) in near perfect octahedral coordination.
Ferrichrome was first isolated in 1952, and has been found to be produced by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Ustilago, and Penicillium. However, at the time there was no understanding regarding its involvement and contribution to iron transport. It was not until 1957 because of Joe Neilands' work, where he first noted that Ferrichrome was able to act as an iron transport agent.