Interacts with outer membrane receptor proteins that carry out high-affinity binding and energy dependent uptake into the periplasmic space of specific substrates such as cobalamin, and various iron compounds (such as iron dicitrate, enterochelin, aerobactin, etc.). In the absence of TonB these receptors bind their substrates but do not carry out active transport. TonB also interacts with some colicins and is involved in the energy-dependent, irreversible steps of bacteriophages phi 80 and T1 infection. It could act to transduce energy from the cytoplasmic membrane to specific energy-requiring processes in the outer membrane, resulting in the release into the periplasm of ligands bound by these outer membrane proteins. Homodimer. Forms a complex with the accessory proteins ExbB and ExbD (By similarity). Belongs to the TonB family.