Si-enterobactin from the endophytic Streptomyces sp KT-S1-B5-a potential silicon transporter in Nature?

Si-enterobactin (2a), a hexacoordinated complex of the siderophore enterobactin (2b) with silicon as the central atom, was isolated from an endophytic Streptomyces sp. occurring in Piper guinensis roots. The structure and absolute configuration were determined from NMR and MS data, and by X-ray diffraction. The orientation of the molecule along the pseudo-3-fold axis shows that the coordination environment of the silicon atom complexed with three bidentate ligands is Delta. We assume that 2a or related complexes may be involved in the transport of silicon in plants, diatoms, or other silicon-dependent organisms.