Marinobactins A-E are a suite of amphiphilic siderophores which have a common peptidic head group that coordinates Fe(III), and a fatty acid which varies in length and saturation. As a result of the amphiphilic properties of these siderophores it is difficult to study siderophore-mediated uptake of iron, because the amphiphilic siderophores partition indiscriminately in microbial and other membranes. An alternative method to distinguish amphiphilic siderophore partitioning versus siderophore-mediated active uptake for Fe(III)-marinobactin E has been developed. In addition, a new member of the marinobactin family of siderophores is also reported, marinobactin F, which has a C(18) fatty acid with one double bond and which is substantially more hydrophobic that marinobactins A-E.