Unlocking the Secrets of Burkholderia sp. HME13 in Ergothioneine Use

Did you know that some bacteria can use a powerful antioxidant called ergothioneine as their main source of nitrogen? Burkholderia sp. HME13 is one of them. This microbe has a clever set of enzymes that help it break down ergothioneine for its own use. One of these enzymes, ErtE, is particularly interesting. ErtE is like a tiny worker in a factory, chopping up a specific piece of ergothioneine. It works best at a warm 60°C and a neutral pH of 7.0. It's also pretty stable, holding up well at temperatures up to 55°C and a pH range of 6. 5-8. 0. But ErtE can't do its job without some help. It needs certain metal ions, like Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Fe²⁺, to get the job done. Taking these ions away makes ErtE useless, but adding them back brings it back to life. All of this points to ErtE playing a key role in how Burkholderia sp. HME13 uses ergothioneine.