Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants altered in their sensitivity to the effect of iron on toxin A or elastase yields

Abstract

Fe affects yields of toxin A, alkaline protease, elastase, pyochelin and pyoverdin in P. aeruginosa. Mutants of P. aeruginosa PAO1 resistant to the effect of Fe on toxin (toxC) or elastase (elaC) yields were isolated. Two types of mutants were isolated. Fe transport and Fe regulatory mutants. The toxC regulatory mutants produced toxin A in medium containing Fe; however, yields of elastase and alkaline protease remained sensitive to regulation by Fe. The elaC regulatory mutants were resistant to the effect of Fe on elastase yields, but toxin A and alkaline protease yields were decreased by Fe, analogous to the parent strain. Toxin A, elastase and alkaline protease yields can apparently be independently regulated by Fe.