ENTEROBACTIN Meaning and
Definition
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Enterobactin is a siderophore molecule that plays a crucial role in iron acquisition and metabolism in certain bacterial species, particularly in Enterobacteriaceae. It is a high-affinity iron chelator, meaning that it binds tightly to iron ions in the extracellular environment. As iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, enterobactin assists bacteria in acquiring and sequestering iron from their surroundings, enabling their survival in iron-limited environments.
Structurally, enterobactin consists of three 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) subunits connected by two amide bonds, forming a cyclic trimeric structure. Each DHBA subunit contains hydroxyl functional groups that bind to iron ions, forming a stable complex. Enterobactin’s high affinity for iron allows it to outcompete other chelators present in the environment, ensuring the efficient acquisition of iron by the bacteria.
Enterobactin is produced and secreted by bacteria when they detect low iron concentrations in their environment. The biosynthesis of enterobactin involves a complex enzymatic pathway that converts precursor molecules into the final product. Additionally, certain bacteria possess specific transport systems to uptake enterobactin-bound iron into their cytoplasm, allowing for intracellular iron utilization.
Understanding the role of enterobactin in iron uptake is of great interest as it provides potential targets for the development of new antimicrobial agents. By disrupting the pathways involved in enterobactin biosynthesis or iron transport, scientists hope to hinder bacterial growth and decrease their ability to cause infections.
Common Misspellings for ENTEROBACTIN
- wnterobactin
- snterobactin
- dnterobactin
- rnterobactin
- 4nterobactin
- 3nterobactin
- ebterobactin
- emterobactin
- ejterobactin
- ehterobactin
- enrerobactin
- enferobactin
- engerobactin
- enyerobactin
- en6erobactin
- en5erobactin
- entwrobactin
- entsrobactin
- entdrobactin
- entrrobactin
Etymology of ENTEROBACTIN
The word "Enterobactin" has a Greek-Latin etymology.
The term "Enter-" is derived from the Greek word "enteron", meaning intestine.
The suffix "-bactin" is derived from the Latin word "bacillus", meaning rod-shaped, which is commonly used to refer to bacteria.
Hence, "Enterobactin" is a compound word combining "entero" (intestine) and "bactin" (rod-shaped bacteria) and is used to describe a specific type of siderophore that is produced by certain bacteria found in the intestines, including enterobacteria.
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