Iron Transport in Microbes, Plants, and Animals


Book Description

This first comprehensive treatise on iron transport in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals summarizes the current state of knowledge on the subject.




Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants


Book Description

Many agricultural crops worldwide, especially in semi-arid climates, suffer from iron deficiencies. Among plants sensitive to iron deficiency are apples, avocado, bananas, barley, beans, citrus, cotton, grapes, peanuts, pecans, potatoes, sorghum, soybeans, and numerous ornamental plants. Deficiencies are usually recognized by chlorotic, in new leaves and are typically found among sensitive crops grown in calcareous or yellowed, interveinal areas soils which cover over 30% of the earth's land surface. Iron deficiency may lead, in extreme cases, to complete crop failure. In intensive agriculture on calcareous soils, iron often becomes a major limiting nutrient for optimal crop production, thus, correction of iron deficiency is required. Various chemicals and practices are available. They are, however, costly and do not always result in a complete remedy of the deficiency. Crucial questions relative to the cost-benefit equation such as the recovery rate of plants and the long-term fertilizing effect have not yet been resolved. The complexity of iron nutrition problems requires an understanding of the chemistry of iron oxides in soils, of the chemistry of both natural and synthetic chelates, of rhizosphere microbiology and biochemistry, and of the physiological involvement of the plant in iron uptake and transport.




Military Strategies for Sustainment of Nutrition and Immune Function in the Field


Book Description

Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements. This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function. The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.




Fungal Siderophores


Book Description

In the past few decades, it has been realized through research that fungal siderophores epitomize the uptake of iron as well as other essential elements like zinc, magnesium, copper, nickel and arsenic. Understanding the chemical structures of different fungal siderophores and the membrane receptors involved in uptake of mineral ions has opened new areas for research. In this edited volume, recent research is presented on fungal siderophores in one comprehensive volume to provide researchers a strong base for future research. Siderophores are the low molecular weight, high affinity iron-chelating compounds produced by bacteria and fungi. They are responsible for transporting iron across the cell membrane. Fungi produce a range of hydroxamate siderophores involved in the uptake of essential elements in almost all microorganisms and plants. In recent years, siderophores have been used in molecular imaging applications to visualize and understand cellular functions, which thus provide an opportunity to identify new drug targets. Therefore, knowledge of fungal siderophores has become vital in current research. Siderophores have received much attention in recent years because of their potential roles and applications in various research areas. Their significance in these applications is because siderophores have the ability to bind a variety of metals in addition to iron, and they have a wide range of chemical structures and specific properties. For instance, siderophores function as biocontrols, biosensors, and bioremediation and chelation agents, in addition to their important role in weathering soil minerals and enhancing plant growth. This book focuses on siderophores with the following significant points. It discusses leading, state-of-the-art research in all possible areas on fungal siderophores. The contributors are well-known and recognized authorities in the field of fungal siderophores. It discusses a projection of practical applications of fungal siderophores in various domains. This is the first book exclusively on fungal siderophores. In this comprehensive, edited volume, we show leading research on fungal siderophores and provide the most recent knowledge of researchers' work on siderophores. This book presents in-depth knowledge on siderophores to researchers working in areas of health sciences, microbiology, plant sciences, biotechnology, and bioinformatics.




Iron Uptake and Homeostasis in Microorganisms


Book Description

In this book, an international team of authors presents a comprehensive collection of reviews on iron uptake and metabolism in various microorganisms including rhizobia, Bordetella, Shigella, E. coli, Erwinia, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Francisella, Bacteroides, Campylobacter, cyanobacteria, Bacillus, staphylococci and yeasts. An entire chapter is dedicated to siderophores and another to heme uptake. The volume provides an expert and timely summary of current knowledge, with a focus on molecular and genetic aspects, and highlights some of the most exciting recent developments. Aimed at research scient.




Iron Transport in Bacteria


Book Description

provides an up–to–date survey of iron transport systems in bacteria; details iron transport and its regulation in E.colias a prototype for iron transport systems in gram–negative bacteria; includes chapters on the major gram–negative, gram–positive and acid–fast bacterial pathogens – their iron transport systems and the roles of these systems in virulence; presents structural studies of siderophores, heme carriers, and iron transport proteins; discusses the ecology of siderophores and potential therapeutic uses of siderophores.




Iron Chelation in Plants and Soil Microorganisms


Book Description

Iron Chelation in Plants and Soil Microorganisms provides an introduction to the basic biological processes of plants that require iron and those affected by iron deficiency. The book aims to stimulate research in the area of iron metabolism in plants and plant-associated microorganisms. The book is organized into three parts. Part I provides an overview of research methods used in the study of iron chelation relevant to plant biology. Key topics covered include microbial siderophores, phytosiderophores, and plant and microbial ferritins. Part II discusses the molecular approach to iron chelation, which includes molecular biology, enzymology, and iron uptake activities. Part III addresses various physiological and chemical characteristics of the iron stress response. This book was written for scientists involved in plant physiology, agronomy, phytopathology, plant control, and soil microbiology. It may also be of interest to those studying soil chemistry, plant-mineral relationships, horticulture, in vivo and in vitro iron measurements, and microbial ecology. In addition, the book can serve as reference for specialty courses and laboratories conducting research on iron nutrition in plants as well as individuals engaged in iron-related research.




Iron Transport and Storage


Book Description

The objective of this book is to review and summarize recent developments in our understanding of iron transport and storage in living systems. It includes an overview of the evolutionary aspects of iron metabolism and bacterial iron transport, as well as a detailed discussion of molecules with specific roles in iron metabolism in higher organisms. It also presents relationships between intracellular iron metabolism and cell proliferation. Iron Transport and Storage addresses the comparative aspects of iron transport and storage in different tissues. This essential volume is very useful for hematologists, physical and biological chemists, cell and molecular biologists, physiologists, and clinicians with an interest in the biology and metabolism of iron.




The Nramp Family


Book Description

This book is the first comprehensive volume on the "Nramp family", highlighting the physiological importance of Nramp proteins as metal transporters. The molecular knowledge of these membrane proteins is presented from an evolutionary perspective, considering Nramp cellular function and mechanism of transport in key model organisms. The pathological significance of Nramp genetic polymorphism is discussed with emphasis on metal homeostasis and microbial infection. The chapters were contributed by leading investigators, providing a timely state of the art book in this rapidly growing field. The Nramp Family will be useful to a broad community of scientists interested in metal transport and molecular biology. It will be of interest to the research audience in the broad fields of metal ions and molecular medicine.




Metal Transporters


Book Description

This volume of Current Topics in Membranes focuses on metal transmembrane transporters and pumps, a recently discovered family of membrane proteins with many important roles in the physiology of living organisms. The book summarizes the most recent advances in the field of metal ion transport and provides a broad overview of the major classes of transporters involved in homeostasis of heavy metals. Various families of the transporters and metal specificities are discussed with the focus on the structural and mechanistic aspects of their function and regulation. The reader will access information obtained through a variety of approaches ranging from X-ray crystallography to cell biology and bioinformatics, which have been applied to transporters identified in diverse biological systems, such as pathogenic bacteria, plants, humans and others. Field is cutting-edge and a lot of the information is new to research community Wide breadth of topic coverage Contributors of high renown and expertise