Discovering radical-dependent enzymes in the human gut microbiota.

Discovering radical-dependent enzymes in the human gut microbiota.
Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2018 Sep 27;47:86-93
Authors: Levin BJ, Balskus EP
Abstract
Human gut microbes have a tremendous impact on human health, in part due to their unique chemical capabilities. In the anoxic environment of the healthy human gut, many important microbial metabolic transformations are performed by radical-dependent enzymes. Although identifying and characterizing these enzymes has been challenging, recent advances in genome and metagenome sequencing have enabled studies of their chemistry and biology. Focusing on the glycyl radical enzyme family, one of the most enriched protein families in the human gut microbiota, we highlight different approaches for discovering radical-dependent enzymes that influence host health and disease.
PMID: 30268905 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Opinion in Chemical Biology - September 27, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Levin BJ, Balskus EP Tags: Curr Opin Chem Biol Source Type: research