ENTEROCHELIN Meaning and
Definition
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Enterochelin is a small molecule, belonging to the family of siderophores, which are organic compounds produced by microorganisms and plants to facilitate the uptake of iron. It is specifically synthesized and secreted by enteric bacteria, such as Escherichia coli.
The primary function of enterochelin is to scavenge iron from the environment and transport it back into the bacterial cell. Iron is an essential nutrient for many biological processes, including DNA synthesis and energy production. However, iron is often present in limited quantities in the host environment, and bacteria need to compete with the host for this vital resource.
Enterochelin has high affinity for iron, allowing it to effectively capture iron molecules from the extracellular environment. Once bound to iron, enterochelin forms a stable complex that is recognized and actively transported into the bacterial cell by specific receptors on the cell surface. Inside the cell, the iron is released from enterochelin and made available for use in various metabolic pathways.
The production and utilization of enterochelin play a crucial role in the virulence and survival of enteric bacteria. Disruption of the enterochelin biosynthesis pathway can result in reduced iron acquisition and impaired growth of the bacteria, making it a potential target for the development of antimicrobial strategies.
Common Misspellings for ENTEROCHELIN
- wnterochelin
- snterochelin
- dnterochelin
- rnterochelin
- 4nterochelin
- 3nterochelin
- ebterochelin
- emterochelin
- ejterochelin
- ehterochelin
- enrerochelin
- enferochelin
- engerochelin
- enyerochelin
- en6erochelin
- en5erochelin
- entwrochelin
- entsrochelin
- entdrochelin
- entrrochelin
Etymology of ENTEROCHELIN
The word "Enterochelin" is derived from two components: "entero-" and "chelin".
- "Enter" is derived from the Greek word "enteron", meaning intestine or gut. It often refers to the gastrointestinal tract in the medical context.
- "Chelin" is derived from the German word "Chele", which means claw or hook. In biology, "chelate" refers to the formation of a complex by a metal ion binding to a ligand using two or more coordinate bonds.
Therefore, "Enterochelin" can be understood as a compound term, indicating a ligand or molecule that is chelated (like a claw or hook) in the intestines.
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