title: Novel insights into E. coli's hexuronate metabolism: KduI facilitates the conversion of galacturonate and glucuronate under osmotic stress conditions.
abstract: Using a gnotobiotic mouse model, we previously observed the upregulation of 2-deoxy-D-gluconate 3-dehydrogenase (KduD) in intestinal E. coli of mice fed a lactose-rich diet and the downregulation of this enzyme and of 5-keto 4-deoxyuronate isomerase (KduI) on a casein-rich diet. The present study aimed to define the role of the so far poorly characterized E. coli proteins KduD and KduI in vitro. Galacturonate and glucuronate induced kduD and kduI gene expression 3-fold and 7 to 11-fold, respectively, under aerobic conditions as well as 9 to 20-fold and 19 to 54-fold, respectively, under anaerobic conditions. KduI facilitated the breakdown of these hexuronates. In E. coli, galacturonate and glucuronate are normally degraded by UxaABC and UxuAB. However, osmotic stress represses the expression of the corresponding genes in an OxyR-dependent manner. When grown in the presence of galacturonate or glucuronate, kduID-deficient E. coli had a 30% to 80% lower maximal cell density and 1.5 to 2-fold longer doubling times under osmotic stress conditions than wild type E. coli. Growth on lactose promoted the intracellular formation of hexuronates, which possibly explain the induction of KduD on a lactose-rich diet. These results indicate a novel function of KduI and KduD in E. coli and demonstrate the crucial influence of osmotic stress on the gene expression of hexuronate degrading enzymes.
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Rothe
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Alpert
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Loh
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Blaut
mesh_terms: D019747:Aldose-Ketose Isomerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009995:Osmosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D019747:Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; C048091:4-deoxy-L-threo-5-hexosulose-uronate ketol-isomerase