ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOFERRIN-B, A COMPOUND WITH SIDEROPHORE ACTIVITY FROM STAPHYLOCOCCI

A highly hydrophilic compound with siderophore activity has been isola ted from the supernatant of Staphylococcus hyicus DSM 20459 grown unde r iron-restricted conditions. The metabolite, named staphyloferrin B, is strictly iron-regulated and produced by a large variety of staphylo cocci strains. In vivo iron transport measurements and the growth-prom oting activity in a bioassay establish staphyloferrin B as the second siderophore for staphylococci besides the previously described staphyl oferrin A. The structure elucidation revealed 2,3-diaminopropionic aci d, citrate, ethylenediamine and 2-ketoglutaric acid as structural comp onents of the compound. Thus, staphyloferrin B is a structurally new s iderophore of the complexone type.