Indoleacetate decarboxylase is a glycyl radical enzyme catalysing the formation of malodorant skatole

Dazhi Liu, Yifeng Wei, Xuyang Liu, Yan Zhou, Li Jiang, Jinyu Yin, Feifei Wang, Yiling Hu, Ankanahalli N. Nanjaraj Urs, Yanhong Liu, Ee Lui Ang, Suwen Zhao (), Huimin Zhao () and Yan Zhang ()
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Dazhi Liu: Tianjin University
Yifeng Wei: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Xuyang Liu: ShanghaiTech University
Yan Zhou: Tianjin University
Li Jiang: Tianjin University
Jinyu Yin: Tianjin University
Feifei Wang: Tianjin University
Yiling Hu: Tianjin University
Ankanahalli N. Nanjaraj Urs: Tianjin University
Yanhong Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ee Lui Ang: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Suwen Zhao: ShanghaiTech University
Huimin Zhao: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Yan Zhang: Tianjin University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Skatole is a malodorous compound that contributes to the characteristic smell of animal faeces. Although skatole has long been known to originate from bacterial tryptophan fermentation, the enzyme catalysing its formation has so far remained elusive. Here we report the use of comparative genomics for the discovery of indoleacetate decarboxylase, an O2-sensitive glycyl radical enzyme catalysing the decarboxylation of indoleacetate to form skatole as the terminal step of tryptophan fermentation in certain anaerobic bacteria. We describe its biochemical characterization and compare it to other glycyl radical decarboxylases. Indoleacetate decarboxylase may serve as a genetic marker for the identification of skatole-producing environmental and human-associated bacteria, with impacts on human health and the livestock industry.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06627-x

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