Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a Gram negative bacterium of significant clinical relevance, responsible for severe nosocomial infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Its ability to acquire iron is crucial for its pathogenicity. In this research, we aimed to identify key membrane proteins involved in heme uptake as potential therapeutic targets. To achieve this, we conducted an in silico analysis, evaluating 47 potential membrane proteins using Expasy BLAST. We identified 7 candidate membrane proteins that contain the conserved FRAP and NPNL motifs, which are essential for heme binding. Additionally, we analysed the presence of FurBox sequences in the promoter regions to assess their regulation by iron. Our findings demonstrate that the identified membrane proteins possess the necessary motifs to facilitate their interaction with the heme group. Moreover, the presence of FurBox sequences suggests that these proteins are regulated by iron. In conclusion, these proteins represent promising therapeutic targets. Inhibiting them could reduce the virulence of P. aeruginosa by limiting iron up take and biofilm formation, thereby laying the groundwork for future studies on inhibitors targeting these proteins.
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