Genomic and functional divergence of oxalate metabolism pathways in bacteria from contrasting ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Oxalotrophy refers to the ability of bacteria to utilize oxalate as a carbon and energy source. This is a critical process, with significant implications for the global carbon cycle. Oxalate-degrading bacteria play a key role in carbon sequestration through the oxalate-carbonate pathway, contributing to stable inorganic carbon pools. In this study, we identified and catalogued 19 enzymes and a transporter associated with various facets of oxalate metabolism to characterize the oxalotrophic potential of bacteria. Within this group, sets of enzymes were grouped into two functional categories in the context of carbon sequestration: a biomineralization toolkit for converting oxalate to inorganic carbon and an assimilation toolkit for incorporating oxalate into metabolic pathways such as amino

SUBMITTER: Prasanna AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12927642 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature