title: Quantification of butyryl CoA:acetate CoA-transferase genes reveals different butyrate production capacity in individuals according to diet and age.
abstract: The gastrointestinal microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, which affect colonic health, immune function and epigenetic regulation. To assess the effects of nutrition and aging on the production of butyrate, the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase gene and population shifts of Clostridium clusters lV and XlVa, the main butyrate producers, were analysed. Faecal samples of young healthy omnivores (24 ± 2.5 years), vegetarians (26 ± 5 years) and elderly (86 ± 8 years) omnivores were evaluated. Diet and lifestyle were assessed in questionnaire-based interviews. The elderly had significantly fewer copies of the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase gene than young omnivores (P=0.014), while vegetarians showed the highest number of copies (P=0.048). The thermal denaturation of the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase gene variant melting curve related to Roseburia/Eubacterium rectale spp. was significantly more variable in the vegetarians than in the elderly. The Clostridium cluster XIVa was more abundant in vegetarians (P=0.049) and in omnivores (P<0.01) than in the elderly group. Gastrointestinal microbiota of the elderly is characterized by decreased butyrate production capacity, reflecting increased risk of degenerative diseases. These results suggest that the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase gene is a valuable marker for gastrointestinal microbiota function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hippe
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwielehner
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liszt
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassl
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Haslberger
mesh_terms: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015256:Coenzyme A-Transferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002087:Butyrates; C024343:butyryl-coenzyme A; D015256:Coenzyme A-Transferases