Role of siderophores in iron storage in spores of Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus ochraceus

Abstract

Spores of Neurospora crassa 74A are lacking in ferritinlike iron pools, as demonstrated by Mössbauer spectroscopic analysis. The cyclic hexapeptide siderophore ferricrocin constituted 47% of the total iron content in spores. After germination and growth, the ferricrocin iron pool disappeared, indicating that the metal was utilized. In spores of Aspergillus ochraceus, 74% of the total iron content was bound by ferrichrome-type siderophores. Siderophores may function as iron storage forms in fungal systems.