Title |
Molecular basis of an agarose metabolic pathway acquired by a human intestinal symbiont
|
---|---|
Published in |
Nature Communications, March 2018
|
DOI | 10.1038/s41467-018-03366-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Benjamin Pluvinage, Julie M. Grondin, Carolyn Amundsen, Leeann Klassen, Paul E. Moote, Yao Xiao, Dallas Thomas, Nicholas A. Pudlo, Anuoluwapo Anele, Eric C. Martens, G. Douglas Inglis, Richard E. R. Uwiera, Alisdair B. Boraston, D. Wade Abbott |
Abstract |
In red algae, the most abundant principal cell wall polysaccharides are mixed galactan agars, of which agarose is a common component. While bioconversion of agarose is predominantly catalyzed by bacteria that live in the oceans, agarases have been discovered in microorganisms that inhabit diverse terrestrial ecosystems, including human intestines. Here we comprehensively define the structure-function relationship of the agarolytic pathway from the human intestinal bacterium Bacteroides uniformis (Bu) NP1. Using recombinant agarases from Bu NP1 to completely depolymerize agarose, we demonstrate that a non-agarolytic Bu strain can grow on GAL released from agarose. This relationship underscores that rare nutrient utilization by intestinal bacteria is facilitated by the acquisition of highly specific enzymes that unlock inaccessible carbohydrate resources contained within unusual polysaccharides. Intriguingly, the agarolytic pathway is differentially distributed throughout geographically distinct human microbiomes, reflecting a complex historical context for agarose consumption by human beings. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Canada | 3 | 30% |
Germany | 1 | 10% |
Japan | 1 | 10% |
Unknown | 5 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 8 | 80% |
Scientists | 2 | 20% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 100 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 22 | 22% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 19 | 19% |
Student > Master | 8 | 8% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 6% |
Other | 15 | 15% |
Unknown | 22 | 22% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 32 | 32% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 22 | 22% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 6 | 6% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 3 | 3% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 3 | 3% |
Other | 8 | 8% |
Unknown | 26 | 26% |