Role of ferritin-like proteins in the microbial iron metabolic network (A09)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms ; Biophysics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458090666

Iron is an essential nutrient as a constituent of vital enzymes containing heme, iron-sulfur clusters, or iron cofactors. To ensure iron availability and to minimize oxidative stress triggered by Fe2+, bacteria accumulate Fe3+ minerals in iron storage proteins (ISPs), such as ferritin. Important features of ISPs are still unknown, such as the mechanism and control of iron release from ISPs, the importance of ISPs for the dynamics of iron homeostasis, the influence of ISPs on cellular metabolism and stress responses, and the significance of ISPs in the race for iron within microbial communities. To address these open questions, we will use Corynebacterium glutamicum as host and combine microbiological and biophysical research approaches.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1535: Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Michael Bott; Professorin Dr. Cornelia Monzel