Applications of siderophore producing marine bacteria in bioremediation of metals and organic compounds

Abstract

Siderophores are chelating agents that are produced by bacteria and fungi for iron uptake under its limiting conditions. Low iron content is a peculiar feature of marine ecosystems. Marine microorganisms, like their terrestrial counterparts, successfully overcome iron limitation by production of siderophores. However, marine siderophores structurally differ from their terrestrial counterparts. Microbial siderophores have been known to facilitate heavy metal sequestration and also play a vital role in organic compound degradation. Therefore, such siderophores have potential for bioremediation of metal and organic compound polluted areas. This chapter focuses on the potential use of siderophore-producing marine bacteria in remediation of metal and organic compound.