Biology subjects

Michalak, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Michalak, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Human gut Faecalibacterium prausnitzii deploy a highly efficient conserved system to cross-feed on β-mannan-derived oligosaccharides

{beta}-Mannans are hemicelluloses that are abundant in modern diets as components in seed endosperms and common additives in processed food. Currently, the collective understanding of {beta}-mannan saccharification in the human colon is limited to a few keystone species, which presumably liberate low-molecular-weight mannooligosaccharide fragments that become directly available to the surrounding microbial community. Here we show that a dominant butyrate-producer in the human gut, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, is able to acquire and degrade various {beta}-mannooligosaccharides ({beta}-MOS), which are derived by the primary mannanolytic activity of neighboring gut microbiota. Detailed biochemical analyses of selected protein components from their two {beta}-mannooligosaccharides ({beta}-MOS) utilization loci (FpMULs) supported a concerted model whereby the imported {beta}-MOS are stepwise disassembled intracellularly by highly adapted enzymes. Coculturing experiments of F. prausnitzii with the primary degrader Bacteroides ovatus on polymeric {beta}-mannan resulted in syntrophic growth and production of butyrate, thus confirming the high efficiency of the FpMULs uptake system. Genomic comparison with human F. prausnitzii strains and analyses of 2441 public human metagenomes revealed that FpMULs are highly conserved and distributed worldwide. Together, our results provide a significant advance in the knowledge of {beta}-mannans metabolism and the degree to which its degradation is mediated by cross-feeding interactions between prominent beneficial microbes in the human gut. ImportanceCommensal butyrate-producing bacteria belonging to the Firmicutes phylum are abundant in the human gut and are crucial for maintaining health. Currently, insight is lacking into how they target otherwise indigestible dietary fibers and into the trophic interactions they establish with other glycan degraders in the competitive gut environment. By combining cultivation, genomic and detailed biochemical analyses this work reveals the mechanism enabling F. prausnitzii, as a model clostridial cluster IV Firmicute, to cross-feed and access {beta}-mannan-derived oligosaccharides released in the gut ecosystem by the action of primary degraders. A comprehensive survey of human gut metagenomes shows that FpMULs are ubiquitous in human populations globally, highlighting the importance of microbial metabolism of {beta}-mannans/{beta}-MOS as a common dietary component. Our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of the {beta}-MOS utilization capability by F. prausnitzii that may be exploited to select dietary formulations specifically boosting this beneficial symbiont, thus butyrate production, in the gut.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Engineered fibre enables targeted activation of butyrate producing microbiota in the distal gut

Beneficial modulation of the gut microbiome has high-impact implications not only in humans, but also in livestock that sustain our current societal needs. In this context, we have tailored an acetylated galactoglucomannan (AcGGM) fibre to match unique enzymatic capabilities of Roseburia and Faecalibacterium species, both renowned butyrate-producing gut commensals. The accuracy of AcGGM was tested within the complex endogenous gut microbiome of pigs, wherein we resolved 355 metagenome-assembled genomes together with quantitative metaproteomes. In AcGGM-fed pigs, both target populations differentially expressed AcGGM-specific polysaccharide utilization loci, including novel, mannan-specific esterases that are critical to its deconstruction. However, AcGGM-inclusion also manifested a "butterfly effect", whereby numerous metabolic changes and interdependent cross-feeding pathways were detected in neighboring non-mannolytic populations that produce short-chain fatty acids. Our findings show that intricate structural features and acetylation patterns of dietary fibre can be customized to specific bacterial populations, with potential to create greater modulatory effects at large.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

A pair of esterases from a commensal gut bacterium remove acetylations from all positions on complex β-mannans

{beta}-Mannans and xylans are important components of the plant cell wall and they are acetylated to be protected from degradation by glycoside hydrolases. {beta}-Mannans are widely present in human and animal diets as fiber from leguminous plants and as thickeners and stabilizers in processed foods. There are many fully characterized acetylxylan esterases (AcXEs), however, the enzymes deacetylating mannans are less understood. Here we present two carbohydrate esterases, RiCE2 and RiCEX, from the Firmicute Roseburia intestinalis, which together deacetylate complex galactoglucomannan (GGM). The 3D-structure of RiCEX with a mannopentaose in the active site shows that the CBM35 domain of RiCEX forms a confined complex, where the axially oriented C2-hydroxyl of a mannose residue points towards the Ser41 of the catalytic triad. Cavities on the RiCEX surface may accept galactosylations at the C6 positions of mannose adjacent to the mannose residue being deacetylated (subsite -1 and +1). In depth characterization of the two enzymes using time-resolved NMR, HPLC and mass spectrometry demonstrates that they work in a complementary manner. RiCEX exclusively removes the axially oriented 2-O-acetylations on any mannose residue in an oligosaccharide, including double acetylated mannoses, while the RiCE2 is active on 3-O-, 4-O- and 6-O-acetylations. Activity of RiCE2 is dependent on RiCEX removing 2-O-acetylations from double acetylated mannose. Furthermore, transacetylation of oligosaccharides with the 2-O specific RiCEX provided new insight to how temperature and pH affects acetyl migration on mannooligosaccharides.\n\nSignificance statementAcetylations are an important feature of hemicellulose, altering the physical properties of the plant cell wall, and limiting enzyme accessibility. Removal of acetyl groups from beta-mannan is a key step towards efficient utilization of mannans as a carbon source for gut microbiota and in biorefineries. We present detailed insight into mannan deacetylation by two highly substrate-specific acetyl-mannan esterases (AcMEs) from a prevalent gut commensal Firmicute, which cooperatively deacetylate complex galactoglucomannan. The 3D structure of RiCEX with mannopentaose in the active site has a unique two-domain architecture including a CBM35 and an SGNH superfamily hydrolytic domain. Discovery of mannan specific esterases improves the understanding of an important step in dietary fiber utilization by gut commensal Firmicutes.

biochemistry↗