Functional profiling and crystal structures of isothiocyanate hydrolases found in gut-associated and plant pathogenic bacteria.

This study explores a newly discovered protein in the beta-lactamase superfamily: SaxA, or isothiocyanate hydrolase. Isothiocyanates are defensive compounds found in many cabbage-related crop plants, and are currently being investigated for their antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties. We show that isothiocyanate hydrolases are responsible for the breakdown of several of these plant defensive chemicals in vitro and suggest their potential for mitigating the beneficial effects of isothiocyanates in crop protection and cancer prevention. PMID: 29752272 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research