Abstract
Yeasts, which have been a component of the human diet for at least 7,000 years, possess an elaborate cell wall α-mannan. The influence of yeast mannan on the ecology of the human microbiota is unknown. Here we show that yeast α-mannan is a viable food source for the Gram-negative bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a dominant member of the microbiota. Detailed biochemical analysis and targeted gene disruption studies support a model whereby limited cleavage of α-mannan on the surface generates large oligosaccharides that are subsequently depolymerized to mannose by the action of periplasmic enzymes. Co-culturing studies showed that metabolism of yeast mannan by B. thetaiotaomicron presents a 'selfish' model for the catabolism of this difficult to breakdown polysaccharide. Genomic comparison with B. thetaiotaomicron in conjunction with cell culture studies show that a cohort of highly successful members of the microbiota has evolved to consume sterically-restricted yeast glycans, an adaptation that may reflect the incorporation of eukaryotic microorganisms into the human diet.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 165-169 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 517 |
Issue number | 7533 |
Early online date | 7 Jan 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Bacteroidetes/cytology
- Biological Evolution
- Carbohydrate Conformation
- Diet
- Enzymes/genetics
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology
- Genetic Loci/genetics
- Germ-Free Life
- Glycoproteins/chemistry
- Humans
- Male
- Mannans/chemistry
- Mannose/metabolism
- Mice
- Models, Biological
- Models, Molecular
- Oligosaccharides/chemistry
- Periplasm/enzymology
- Yeasts/chemistry