What is "ferrichrome"

n. (context biochemistry English) A cyclic hexapeptide siderophore produced by some fungus

Ferrichrome is a cyclic hexa- peptide that forms a complex with iron atoms. It is a siderophore composed of three glycine and three modified ornithine residues with hydroxamate groups [-N(OH)C(=O)C-]. The 6 oxygen atoms from the three hydroxamate groups bind Fe(III) in near perfect octahedral coordination.

Ferrichrome was first isolated in 1952, has been found to be produced by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Ustilago, and Penicillium.