ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the iron uptake systems of the fluorescent pseudomonads, and in particular the efforts that were made to unravel the complex biosynthesis and utilization of pseudobactin 358 in- Pseudomonas putida strain WCS358. When one bears in mind the complex chemical structure of pseudobactin, it is not hard to envisage that many genes are involved in its synthesis and secretion, the uptake of the ferric pseudobactin, and, finally, the intracellular release of iron. The genus Pseudomonas comprises a vast group of bacteria which are found in a variety of natural environments, and in many different associations with plants and animals. This ecological diversity is a reflection of their simple nutritional requirements, and their ability to metabolize a wide range of organic compounds. The considerable variation in apparent molecular weights for receptor proteins of fluorescent pseudomonads may well be a reflection of the diversity of the siderophores themselves.
