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Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1982 Apr;36(1):107–113. doi: 10.1128/iai.36.1.107-113.1982

Expression of a high-affinity mechanism for acquisition of transferrin iron by Neisseria meningitidis.

C Simonson, D Brener, I W DeVoe
PMCID: PMC351191  PMID: 6210635

Abstract

Iron-starved meningococci grown at either pH 7.2 or 6.6 were capable of removing and incorporating iron from human transferrin by a saturable, cell surface mechanism that specifically recognized transferrin rather than iron. The maximum expression of the iron uptake system occurred after 4 h of iron starvation. The uptake of the iron was dependent upon a functioning electron transport chain and was sensitive to 60 degrees C and trypsin. Cells grown under iron-sufficient conditions were incapable of accumulating iron from transferrin. No evidence was found for a primary role for cell-free soluble siderophores in the removal of iron from transferrin. The nonpathogenic neisseriae, Neisseria flava and N. sicca, were unable to utilize iron on transferrin.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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