Tungsten enzymes play a role in detoxifying food and antimicrobial aldehydes in the human gut microbiome
Gerrit J. Schut, Michael P. Thorgersen, Farris L. Poole, Dominik K. Haja, Saisuki Putumbaka, Michael W. W. Adams
Abstract
and of the redox protein ferredoxin. Such aldehydes are present in cooked foods and are produced as antimicrobials by gut microbiome metabolism. This aldehyde detoxification strategy is dependent on the availability of W to the microbe. The functions of other WORs in the gut microbiome that do not oxidize aldehydes remain unknown. W is generally beyond detection (<6 parts per billion) in common foods and at picomolar concentrations in drinking water, suggesting that W availability could limit some gut microbial functions and might be an overlooked micronutrient.
Topics & Concepts
MicrobiomeEnzymeGut microbiomeBiochemistryMicrobial metabolismBiologyBacteriaMetabolismGut floraRedoxChemistryMicrobiologyBioinformaticsGeneticsOrganic chemistryChemical and Physical Properties in Aqueous SolutionsFluoride Effects and RemovalWater Treatment and Disinfection