Metal-dependent self-assembly of a microbial surfactant.

TitleMetal-dependent self-assembly of a microbial surfactant.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsOwen T, Pynn R, Hammouda B, Butler A
JournalLangmuir
Volume23
Issue18
Pagination9393-400
Date Published2007 Aug 28
ISSN0743-7463
KeywordsCryoelectron Microscopy, Marinobacter, Metals, Micelles, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission, Molecular Structure, Neutrons, Phase Transition, Surface-Active Agents
Abstract

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to study the metal-dependent phase behavior of microbially produced surfactants-marinobactins B, D, and E (MB, MD, and ME). Marinobactins A-E are siderophores that facilitate Fe(III) acquisition by the source bacterium through the coordination of Fe(III) by the peptidic headgroup. All of the marinobactins have the same six amino acid headgroup but differ in the length and saturation of the monoalkyl fatty acid tail. Fe(III) coordinated to ME (Fe(III)-ME) was found to form micelles with a diameter of approximately 3.5 nm that underwent a supramolecular transformation to produce a monodisperse population of vesicles with an average diameter ranging from approximately 90 to 190 nm upon addition of Cd(II), Zn(II), or La(III). SANS profiles of the transition-metal-induced phase exhibit a Bragg peak at QB approximately 0.11-0.12 A-1 and were fit to a SANS model for multilamellar vesicles that have an interbilayer repeat distance of 2pi/QB approximately 5.6-5.0 nm. Cryo-TEM images of the Zn(II)-induced phase reveals the presence of approximately 100 nm diameter approximately spherical aggregates of uniform electron density. The temperature dependence of the Zn(II)-induced transformation was also investigated as a function of the length and degree of unsaturation of the Fe(III)-marinobactin fatty acid tail. The Cd(II)-, Zn(II)-, and La(III)-induced phase changes have features that are similar to those of the previously reported Fe(III)-induced micelle-to-vesicle transition, and this observation has opened questions regarding the role that Cd(II) and Zn(II) may play in bacterial iron uptake.

DOI10.1021/la700671p
Alternate JournalLangmuir
PubMed ID17655261
Grant ListGM38130 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States