A Co-conserved Gene Pair Supports Iron Homeostasis During Chelation Stress

Overview

Journal bioRxiv

Date 2025 Mar 3

PMID 40027609

Authors

Sergio Hernandez Ortiz

Kiwon Ok

Thomas V OHalloran

Aretha Fiebig

Sean Crosson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Importance: Metal-chelating chemicals are widely used across industries, including as preservatives in the food sector, but their full impact on microbial physiology is not well understood. We identified two genes, and , that function together to support iron balance when cells are exposed to the common synthetic chelator, EDTA. CciT is an outer membrane transporter and CciO is a dioxygenase-family protein that are mutually conserved in many bacteria, including several human pathogens, where mutations in homologs are linked to clinical resistance to the siderophore antibiotic, cefiderocol. This study identifies a conserved genetic system that supports iron homeostasis during chelation stress and illuminates the iron acquisition versatility and stress resilience of in freshwater environments.

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