Oxalate consumption by lactobacilli: evaluation of oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase activity in Lactobacillus acidophilus.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the oxalate-degrading activity in several Lactobacillus species widely used in probiotic dairy and pharmaceutical preparations. Functional characterization of oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase in Lactobacillus acidophilus was performed in order to assess the possible contribution of Lactobacillus in regulating the intestinal oxalate homeostasis.


RESULTS
In order to determine the oxalate-degrading ability in 60 Lactobacillus strains belonging to 12 species, a screening was carried out by using an enzymatic assay. A high variability in the oxalate-degrading capacity was found in the different species. Strains of Lact. acidophilus and Lactobacillus gasseri showed the highest oxalate-degrading activity. Oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase genes from Lact. acidophilus LA14 were cloned and sequenced. The activity of the recombinant enzymes was assessed by capillary electrophoresis.


CONCLUSIONS
Strains of Lactobacillus with a high oxalate-degrading activity were identified. The function and significance of Lact. acidophilus LA14 oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase in oxalate catabolism were demonstrated. These results suggest the potential use of Lactobacillus strains for the degradation of oxalate in the human gut.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of probiotic strains with oxalate-degrading activity can offer the opportunity to provide this capacity to individuals suffering from an increased body burden of oxalate and oxalate-associated disorders.
Turroni
S
S
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CIRB-Center for Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Vitali
B
B
Bendazzoli
C
C
Candela
M
M
Gotti
R
R
Federici
F
F
Pirovano
F
F
Brigidi
P
P
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015256:Coenzyme A-Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005516:Food Microbiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010070:Oxalates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019936:Probiotics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D010070:Oxalates; D015256:Coenzyme A-Transferases; C064813:formyl-coenzyme A transferase; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C059418:oxalyl CoA decarboxylase