How a harmful bacterium senses iron—and why it matters for fighting infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common culprit in hospital-acquired bacterial infections and is growing more resistant to antibiotics. New findings from Aaron Smith, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMBC, and collaborators at Oklahoma State University show how a two-protein system inside the bacterium operates like a sensitive switch: The pair detects iron both outside and inside the cell…
This study published in Nature Communications reveals how a two-protein system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria acts like a switch to regulate iron uptake and metabolism. The system, consisting of proteins BqsS and BqsR, detects iron both outside and inside the cell. BqsS, located on the cell membrane, senses iron in the environment and signals BqsR, which resides inside the cell.
BqsR then binds to DNA and modifies gene expression, affecting various cellular functions. The findings suggest that this iron-regulation system could be a promising target for developing more effective treatments against stubborn bacterial infections.
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