Complex pectin metabolism by gut bacteria reveals novel catalytic functions

Didier Ndeh, Artur Rogowski, Alan Cartmell, Ana S. Luis, Arnaud Baslé, Joseph Gray, Immacolata Venditto, Jonathon Briggs, Xiaoyang Zhang, Aurore Labourel, Nicolas Terrapon, Fanny Buffetto, Sergey Nepogodiev, Yao Xiao, Robert A. Field, Yanping Zhu, Malcolm A. O’Neill, Breeanna R. Urbanowicz, William S. York, Gideon J. Davies, D. Wade Abbott, Marie-Christine Ralet, Eric C. Martens, Bernard Henrissat and Harry J. Gilbert ()
Additional contact information
Didier Ndeh: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Artur Rogowski: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Alan Cartmell: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Ana S. Luis: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Arnaud Baslé: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Joseph Gray: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Immacolata Venditto: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Jonathon Briggs: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Xiaoyang Zhang: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Aurore Labourel: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Nicolas Terrapon: Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University
Fanny Buffetto: INRA, UR1268 Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages
Sergey Nepogodiev: John Innes Centre Norwich Research Park
Yao Xiao: University of Michigan Medical School
Robert A. Field: John Innes Centre Norwich Research Park
Yanping Zhu: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, The University of Georgia
Malcolm A. O’Neill: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, The University of Georgia
Breeanna R. Urbanowicz: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, The University of Georgia
William S. York: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, The University of Georgia
Gideon J. Davies: University of York
D. Wade Abbott: Lethbridge Research Centre
Marie-Christine Ralet: INRA, UR1268 Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages
Eric C. Martens: University of Michigan Medical School
Bernard Henrissat: Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University
Harry J. Gilbert: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University

Nature, 2017, vol. 544, issue 7648, 65-70

Abstract: Abstract The metabolism of carbohydrate polymers drives microbial diversity in the human gut microbiota. It is unclear, however, whether bacterial consortia or single organisms are required to depolymerize highly complex glycans. Here we show that the gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron uses the most structurally complex glycan known: the plant pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan-II, cleaving all but 1 of its 21 distinct glycosidic linkages. The deconstruction of rhamnogalacturonan-II side chains and backbone are coordinated to overcome steric constraints, and the degradation involves previously undiscovered enzyme families and catalytic activities. The degradation system informs revision of the current structural model of rhamnogalacturonan-II and highlights how individual gut bacteria orchestrate manifold enzymes to metabolize the most challenging glycan in the human diet.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/nature21725

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