The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Per Persson. Photo.

Per Persson

Dean

Per Persson. Photo.

Secretion of iron(III)-reducing metabolites during protein acquisition by the ectomycorrhizal fungus paxillus involutus

Author

  • Firoz Shah
  • Markus Gressler
  • Susan Nehzati
  • Michiel Op De Beeck
  • Luigi Gentile
  • Dirk Hoffmeister
  • Per Persson
  • Anders Tunlid

Summary, in English

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus decomposes proteins using a two-step mechanism, including oxidation and proteolysis. Oxidation involves the action of extracellular hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generated by the Fenton reaction. This reaction requires the presence of iron(II). Here, we monitored the speciation of extracellular iron and the secretion of iron(III)-reducing metabolites during the decomposition of proteins by P. involutus. X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed that extracellular iron was mainly present as solid iron(III) phosphates and oxides. Within 1 to 2 days, these compounds were reductively dissolved, and iron(II) complexes were formed, which remained in the medium throughout the incubation. HPLC and mass spectrometry detected five extracellular iron(III)-reducing metabolites. Four of them were also secreted when the fungus grew on a medium containing ammonium as the sole nitrogen source. NMR identified the unique iron(III)-reductant as the diarylcyclopentenone involutin. Involutin was produced from day 2, just before the elevated •OH production, preceding the oxidation of BSA. The other, not yet fully characterized iron(III)-reductants likely participate in the rapid reduction and dissolution of solid iron(III) complexes observed on day one. The production of these metabolites is induced by other environmental cues than for involutin, suggesting that they play a role beyond the Fenton chemistry associated with protein oxidation.

Department/s

  • MEMEG
  • Microbial Ecology
  • MAX IV Laboratory
  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)

Publishing year

2021

Language

English

Publication/Series

Microorganisms

Volume

9

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

MDPI AG

Topic

  • Microbiology

Keywords

  • Ectomycorrhizal fungi
  • Fenton reaction
  • Involutin
  • Iron reduction
  • Secondary metabolites

Status

Published

Research group

  • Microbial Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2076-2607