Role of siderophores in iron storage in spores of Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus ochraceus

Spores of Neurospora crassa 74A are lacking in ferritin like iron pools, as demonstrated by Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis. The cyclic hexapeptide siderophore ferricrocin constituted 47% of the total iron content in spores. After germination and growth, the ferricrocin iron pool disappeared, indicating that the metal was utilized. In spores of Asperigillus ochraceus, 74% of the total iron content was bound by ferrichrome-type siderophores. Siderophores may function as iron storage forms in fungal systems.