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

    444 Citations (Scopus)
    114 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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