BIRMINGHAM (CU)_Research conducted at the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University has found a carbohydrate often seen attached to plant proteins is a food source for our gut bacteria. The results indicated how gut microbes use plant N-glycans, a complex carbohydrate, as nutrients.
Details of enzymes that are synthesized by the gut microbiome will facilitate scientists to further gain knowledge on how to maintain good gut health. These enzymes also have biotechnological uses, such as reducing allergenic responses to food and certain medicines.
As the plant sugars that the gut microbes feed on are linked with some allergies from pollen and plant-based foods, the researchers indicate that the enzymes could be applied to make some foods and medicines to have a lower chance of developing allergic reactions.
Dr Lucy Crouch, lead author of the findings from the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham stated the gut microbiome is an incredibly important feature for human health, and this finding will enable us to better understand the microbiome. By identifying the particular enzymes that these microbes use to digest their food, we can consider how future diets can be developed that promote a healthy gut, and as a result improve our general health.
“One unexpected outcome from the study is that insect N-glycans are also targeted by the some of the enzymes discovered. In a future scenario where we increasingly rely on alternative protein sources such as insects, this work provides insights into how insect proteins may also provide nutrients for our gut microbes,” said Dr Crouch.
Dr David Bolam, co-lead author of the study from Newcastle University stated that we are learning the overall role gut plays in our health and the ability of gut microbes to use plant N-glycans is significant and has enhanced our understanding in terms of how sugars are broken-down by microbiota but also to find new enzymes that change and evaluate N-glycan structures for health applications.
