Molecular recognition and signaling

Molecular recognition and signaling are at the heart of biological processes as they govern intercellular communication and information transfer. Here we probe the recognition phenomena of siderophore-mediated microbial iron(III) uptake, which involves two recognition processes: recognition of iron(III) by microbial siderophores (iron(III) carriers), and recognition and binding of siderophore-iron(III) complexes by microbial membrane receptors. In addition, we introduce fluorescent siderophore analogs that respond to iron binding with changes of their fluorescence and thereby provide artificial binders that combine iron recognition with signaling.