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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liu, Xumei, Hu, Yiling, An, Junwei, Zhang, Chuyuan, Tan, Jason, Wei, Yifeng, Zhang, Yan
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: The Journal of biological chemistry 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41391761/
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Table of Contents:
  • A pathway for D-cysteinolate degradation in sulfate- and sulfite-reducing bacteria. Liu, Xumei Hu, Yiling An, Junwei Zhang, Chuyuan Tan, Jason Wei, Yifeng Zhang, Yan Sulfites Sulfates Humans Oxidation-Reduction Bacterial Proteins Hydrogen Sulfide Bacteria Multigene Family Sulfonates, characterized by a C-SO moiety, are widespread in the environment. Sulfate- and sulfite-reducing bacteria degrade many naturally occurring sulfonates to produce HS, playing a vital role in sulfur metabolism in anaerobic environments, including the human gut. One of the most abundant sulfonates in marine environments is D-cysteinolate, which functions as an osmolyte in many marine organisms, though mechanisms for its anaerobic degradation remain unknown. Here, we identify and characterize a gene cluster encoding a D-cysteinolate degradation pathway, found in sulfate- and sulfite-reducing bacteria from both environmental sources and the human gut. In this pathway, D-cysteinolate is first epimerized by a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent cysteinolate racemase and oxidized by L-cysteinolate dehydrogenase to produce L-cysteate. Subsequent degradation by the recently characterized PLP-dependent enzymes cysteate racemase and D-cysteate sulfo-lyase yields ammonia, pyruvate, and sulfite, for further reduction to HS. Given the abundance of cysteinolate in marine-derived foods, our study lays the foundation for further exploring its role in HS production within the human gut microbiome.