Metabolism in the Niche: a Large-Scale Genome-Based Survey Reveals Inositol Utilization To Be Widespread among Soil, Commensal, and Pathogenic Bacteria
Michael Weber, Thilo M. Fuchs
Abstract
This study reveals that the capacity to utilize inositol is unexpectedly widespread among soil, commensal, and pathogenic bacteria. We assume that this yet-neglected metabolism plays a pivotal role in the microbial turnover of phytate and inositols. The bioinformatic tool established here enables predicting to which extent and genetic variance a bacterial determinant is present in all genomes sequenced so far.
Topics & Concepts
NicheBiologyBacteriaGenomePathogenic bacteriaGeneticsEvolutionary biologyEcologyGenePhytase and its ApplicationsCassava research and cyanideFolate and B Vitamins Research