Date of Award
Winter 3-21-2026
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organizational Unit
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Allegra Aron
Second Advisor
Yan Qin
Third Advisor
Scott Horowitz
Fourth Advisor
Brian Michel
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Microbial physiology, Metallophores, Nanoparticle-based enrichment, Metal acquisition, Siderophore structure
Abstract
Trace metals are essential for microbial physiology, yet their limited availability drives the evolution of metallophores, which are specialized molecules for metal acquisition. This thesis explores siderophore structure and function using and advanced LC-MS experimental workflows. First, escherichelin, a metabolite from Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, has been shown to possess zinc-binding potential. Second, marine Microbulbifer species were found to encode conserved RiPP biosynthetic clusters that produce bulbicupramide, a thiooxazole-containing peptide that selectively binds Cu(I), suggesting a chalkophore-like role in benthic ecosystems. Finally, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were synthesized and optimized for siderophore enrichment under alkaline conditions, demonstrating strong selectivity for desferrioxamine. Untargeted metabolomics confirmed enrichment of diverse secondary metabolites, highlighting the utility of nanoparticle-based platforms for selective metabolite class isolation.
Copyright Date
3-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Emmanuel Asante
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
129 pgs
File Size
2.3 MB
Recommended Citation
Asante, Emmanuel, "Exploring Metallophore Structure and Function Using Nanoparticle-based and other Analytical Methods" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2692.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2692