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When a pyoverdin (PV), (a siderophore) from Pseudomonas fluorescens, binds aluminum 1:1, its natural fluorescence almost doubles, whereas PV-Fe is non-fluorescent. Complex formation allows [Al] determination down to 1 mug/l. Fe(III) in the sample interferes with [Al] determination, but added after PV, improves the assay's performance. Ascorbic acid does not eliminate Fe(III) interference. PV-Al fluorescence could have analytical and toxicological applications.

From Pseudomonas chlororaphis D-TR 133 a pyoverdine was isolated and its primary structure were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and degradation reactions. Despite some structural differences, its Fe(III) complex and that of the pyoverdine from Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 were taken up by either strain with a high rate. This is explained by a structural similarity between the two pyoverdines which were shown to differ in their structures only by the replacement of Lys by Ala in the C-terminal part of the molecules. An unexpected feature is that the main pyoverdine of P. chlororaphis D-TR133 is accompanied by a minor one where specifically one Ala is replaced by Gly. So far amino acid variations in the peptide chain of pyoverdines produced by a given strain had not been observed amongst the producers of the about fifty pyoverdines reported in the literature.

The siderophores produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens G173 are unusual in several respects. So far all pyoverdins with a C-terminal cyclopeptidic substructure have in common that the epsilon-amino group of an in-chain Lys is bound amidically to the carboxyl group of a C-terminal Ser or Thr and that N5-formyl-N5-hydroxy Orn (FoOHOrn) is the next amino acid after Lys. FoOHOrn may (cyclotetrapeptidic structures) be or may not (cyclotripeptidic structures) be followed by a further amino acid. In the pyoverdin described here Orn instead of Lys is the amino acid forming the cycle, FoOHOrn is replaced by AcOHOrn which does not follow the branching Orn but is the penultimate amino acid and finally the last amino acid is Asp. The producing strain which had been classified as Pseudomonas fluorescens may well be a new species. Pyoverdins are frequently accompanied by ferribactins which are considered to be their biogenetic precursors. They always have the same amino acid chain as the co-occurring pyoverdins but the pyoverdin chromophore is replaced by a condensation product of L-Dab and D-Tyr with the amino group of Tyr bound to the gamma-carboxyl group of Glu. A ferribactin having these structural characteristics is produced by the investigated strain, but it is accompanied by derivatives where the alpha-amino group of Glu is partially or completely transformed into a hydroxamic acid by substitution with a hydroxyl and/or acetyl group.

From Pseudomonas fluorescens PL7 and PL8 structurally related pyoverdins were isolated and their primary structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and degradation reactions. Despite of some structural differences both Fe(III) complexes are taken up by either strain with a high rate. The implications regarding the recognition at the cell surface are discussed.

Pyoverdin was purified by solvent extraction, gel filtration, and ionic exchange chromatography. Assays of cytotoxic of pyoverdin were done with human leukocytes and macrophages from the peritoneum of mice. Both cell quantities showed a significant reduction. Death was followed by lysis in a dose-dependent form. The mechanism of action of pyoverdin involved the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) measured by Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) reaction and chemiluminescence (CL). UV radiation at 368 nm increased the leukotoxicity; expositions of 5 min were enough to photostimulate the effect of pyoverdin on cellular oxydative metabolism, which increased between 35.4 and 53.2%. Genestein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, counteracted the ROS stimuli of pyoverdin, suggesting endocytic mechanism of action for this pigment. The little chloroquine interference on oxydative stress indicated that intraphagosomal pH and the stimuli of reactive nitrogen intermediaries (RNI) seem to be of less importance than ROS in pyoverdin action on leukocytes., (Copyright 2001 Academic Press.)

The structure of the pyoverdin siderophore of Pseudomonas fluorescens 18.1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical degradation. By cross feeding studies structurally closely related pyoverdins containing a C-terminal cyclopeptidic substructure were tested regarding the mutual recognition by the producing strains. Partial recognition of foreign pyoverdins was observed.

Several suggestions for structures of the siderophores (pyoverdins) from Pseudomonas spp. can be found in the literature which are based on a FAB mass spectrometric analysis only. Availability of two original strains of two Pseudomonas spp. allowed to re-investigate the structure of their pyoverdins. In both cases the amino acid sequence had to be corrected. In addition, D- and L-amino acids could be identified and located in the peptide chain. The knowledge of the correct structures is important in view of an ongoing study to establish relationships between the nature of the peptide chains of pyoverdins and their recognition by outer membrane proteins.

The effect of three forms pyoverdin on mouse liver was studied. Significant increases of alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were obtained in mice after ingestion of water with forms A and C. The effect on liver was more evident with A than with C. Pyoverdin was purified by means of salt saturation, solvent extractions and ion-exchange chromatography. Fluorescent peaks obtained in the presence of light were different from those eluted under dark conditions. The relative amounts of pyoverdin A, B and C varied when dark purification procedure was employed. Form A decreased while C increased in the absence of light. Optimum conditions for C were in the dark without iron. When C was exposed to light, it changed to form A. Fast Atom Bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry of pyoverdin form C gave a form at M+ = 1324 m.u., which is 9 m.u. less than pyoverdin purified in the presence of light. The results suggest that light can influence pyoverdin stability and toxicity.

Pseudomonas fluorescens grows and produces pigment in refrigerated human blood at 4 degrees C. Saline precipitation of plasma showed that globulin and albumin fractions retained pyoverdin at different concentrations. By dialysis it was possible to determine that the pigment attached or aggregated to the protein in total plasma as well as in the fraction obtained by saline precipitation. A greater binding was observed at the globulin fraction. Gamma-globulin immunological activity was reduced due to the interaction with pyoverdin, as much in agglutination reaction (VDRL) as in neutralization (Streptolysin O).

Several iron binding metabolites (siderophores) of Pseudomonas fluorescens B10 (JL-3133) have been detected using C18 reverse phase HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection methods. This analysis utilized a volatile mobile phase of 90% 20 mM NH4HCO3/10% MeOH, pH 6.5. It has been shown to be applicable to other P. fluorescens strains for the detection of related metabolites. Direct scale-up of the analytical HPLC conditions allowed for the efficient preparative isolation of pseudobactin, the principle siderophore produced by P.fluorescens B10 (JL-3133).