Overcoming the Heme Paradox: Heme Toxicity and Tolerance in Bacterial Pathogens
Year: 2010
Type: review
Abstract: Virtually all bacterial pathogens require iron to infect vertebrates. The most abundant source of iron within vertebrates is in the form of heme as a cofactor of hemoproteins. Many bacterial pathogens have elegant systems dedicated to the acquisition of heme from host hemoproteins. Once internalized, heme is either degraded to release free iron or used intact as a cofactor in catalases, cytochromes, and other bacterial hemoproteins. Paradoxically, the high redox potential of heme makes it a liability, as heme is toxic at high concentrations. Although a variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain heme toxicity, the mechanisms by which heme kills bacteria are not well understood. Nonetheless, bacteria employ various strategies to protect against and eliminate heme toxicity. Factors involved in heme acquisition and detoxification have been found to contribute to virulence, underscoring the physiological relevance of heme stress during pathogenesis. Herein we describe the current understanding of the mechanisms of heme toxicity and how bacterial pathogens overcome the heme paradox during infection.
Source: Infection and Immunity
DOI: 10.1128/iai.00613-10
Authors: Laura L. Anzaldi, Eric P. Skaar
Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G206146653, Immunobiology of Blood and Vascular Systems Training Program, G2675084885, Mechanism and function of heme-iron utilization in staphylococcal pathogenesis, Southeast Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Di, G9000162070, Pathobiology of heme inducible transporters in Gram positive pathogens
OpenAlex ID: W2069666755