Human gut Bacteroidetes can utilize yeast mannan through a selfish mechanism

Fiona Cuskin, Elisabeth C Lowe, Max J Temple, Yanping Zhu, Elizabeth Cameron, Nicholas A Pudlo, Nathan T Porter, Karthik Urs, Andrew J Thompson, Alan Cartmell, Artur Rogowski, Brian S Hamilton, Rui Chen, Thomas J Tolbert, Kathleen Piens, Debby Bracke, Wouter Vervecken, Zalihe Hakki, Gaetano Speciale, Jose L Munōz-MunōzAndrew Day, Maria J Peña, Richard McLean, Michael D Suits, Alisdair B Boraston, Todd Atherly, Cherie J Ziemer, Spencer J Williams, Gideon J Davies, D Wade Abbott, Eric C Martens, Harry J Gilbert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

402 Citations (Scopus)
85 Downloads (Pure)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)165-169
Number of pages5
JournalNature
Volume517
Issue number7533
Early online date7 Jan 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 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

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