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Plant N-glycan breakdown by human gut Bacteroides

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Arnaud Basle, Dr David Bolam

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

The major nutrients available to the human colonic microbiota are complex glycans derived from the diet. To degrade this highly variable mix of sugar structures, gut microbes have acquired a huge array of different carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), predominantly glycoside hydrolases, many of which have specificities that can be exploited for a range of different applications. Plant N-glycans are prevalent on proteins produced by plants and thus components of the diet, but the breakdown of these complex molecules by the gut microbiota has not been explored. Plant N-glycans are also well characterized allergens in pollen and some plant-based foods, and when plants are used in heterologous protein production for medical applications, the N-glycans present can pose a risk to therapeutic function and stability. Here we use a novel genome association approach for enzyme discovery to identify a breakdown pathway for plant complex N-glycans encoded by a gut Bacteroides species and biochemically characterize five CAZymes involved, including structures of the PNGase and GH92 α-mannosidase. These enzymes provide a toolbox for the modification of plant N-glycans for a range of potential applications. Furthermore, the keystone PNGase also has activity against insect-type N-glycans, which we discuss from the perspective of insects as a nutrient source.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Crouch LI, Urbanowicz PA, Basle A, Cai Z-P, Liu L, Voglmeir J, Melo Diaz JM, Benedict ST, Spencer DIR, Bolam DN

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Year: 2022

Volume: 119

Issue: 39

Online publication date: 19/09/2022

Acceptance date: 15/08/2022

Date deposited: 03/07/2023

ISSN (print): 0027-8424

ISSN (electronic): 1091-6490

Publisher: National Academy of Sciences

URL: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2208168119

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208168119

PubMed id: 36122227


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
BB/M029018/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
National Natural Science Foundation of China

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