Uptake of xenosiderophores in Bacillus subtilis occurs with high affinity and enhances the folding stabilities of substrate binding proteins

Siderophores play an essential role in a multitude of microbial iron acquisition pathways. Many bacteria use xenosiderophores as iron sources that are produced by different microbial species in their habitat. We investigated the capacity of xenosiderophore uptake in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis and found that it employs several substrate binding proteins with high specificities and affinities for different ferric siderophore species. Protein–ligand interaction studies revealed dissociation constants in the low nanomolar range, while the protein folding stabilities were remarkably increased by their high-affinity ligands. Complementary growth studies confirmed the specificity of xenosiderophore uptake in B. subtilis and showed that its fitness is strongly enhanced by the extensive utilization of non-endogenous siderophores.

► Bacillus subtilis produces binding proteins for specific ferric xenosiderophore uptake.
► Xenosiderophore binding occurs in the lower nanomolar range.
► Folding stabilities of binding proteins are strongly enhanced by xenosiderophores.
► Growth of Bacillus is strongly stimulated by specific ferric xenosiderophore uptake.