Prominent members of the human gut microbiota express endo-acting O-glycanases to initiate mucin breakdown.

ABSTRACT: The thick mucus layer of the gut provides a barrier to infiltration of the underlying epithelia by both the normal microbiota and enteric pathogens. Some members of the microbiota utilise mucin glycoproteins as a nutrient source, but a detailed understanding of the mechanisms used to breakdown these complex macromolecules is lacking. Here we describe the discovery and characterisation of endo-acting enzymes from prominent mucin-degrading bacteria that target the polyLacNAc structures within oligosaccharide side chains of both animal and human mucins. These O-glycanases are part of the large and diverse glycoside hydrolase 16 (GH16) family and are often lipoproteins, indicating that they are surface located and thus likely involved in the initial step in mucin breakdown. These data provide

SUBMITTER: Crouch LI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7419316 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature