Two radical-dependent mechanisms for anaerobic degradation of the globally abundant organosulfur compound dihydroxypropanesulfonate
Jiayi Liu, Yifeng Wei, Lianyun Lin, Lin Teng, Jinyu Yin, Qiang Lü, Jiawei Chen, Yuchun Zheng, Yaxin Li, Runyao Xu, Weixiang Zhai, Yangping Liu, Yanhong Liu, Peng Cao, Ee Lui Ang, Huimin Zhao, Zhiguang Yuchi, Yan Zhang
Abstract
Significance DHPS is one of the most abundant organosulfonates on this planet. The mechanisms for DHPS degradation in the anaerobic biosphere are not well understood. Here, we report the bioinformatics-aided discovery, biochemical, and structural characterizations of two O 2 -sensitive glycyl radical enzymes that use distinct radical-mediated mechanisms for DHPS degradation in anaerobic bacteria from diverse terrestrial and marine sources as well as human gut. These enzymes play an important role in the biogeochemical sulfur cycle and link dietary sulfonates to microbial production of H 2 S, which is a causative agent of chronic diseases, such as inflammation and colorectal cancer.