Real-Time Observation of Pyoverdine Dissolving Ferric Hydroxide

Pyoverdine is one of the siderphores excreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that can help microbe to uptake iron in vitro. To determine the effect of pyoverdine chelating with iron, we purified the free pyoverdine and applied the dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) to detect the interaction between the pyoverdine and ferric hydroxide. The real-time DLS data analysis indicated that pyoverdine can directly combine with Fe(OH)₃ to form complexes and these substances are gradually degraded by themselves then completely disappeared. In our experiment, we have demonstrated that pyoverdine may not only chelate ferric ion but also availably dissolve ferric hydroxide which assists bacteria to survive in iron-deficient environments.