title: Transporters and receptors for short-chain fatty acids as the molecular link between colonic bacteria and the host.
abstract: The mutually beneficial relationship between colonic bacteria and the host has been recognized but the molecular aspects of the relationship remain poorly understood. Dietary fiber is critical to this relationship. The short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate and butyrate, generated by bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber, serve as messengers between colonic bacteria and the host. The beneficial effects of these bacterial metabolites in colon include, but are not limited to, suppression of inflammation and prevention of cancer. Recent studies have identified the plasma membrane transporter SLC5A8 and the cell-surface receptors GPR109A and GPR43 as essential for the biologic effects of short-chain fatty acids in colon. These three proteins coded by the host genome provide the molecular link between colonic bacteria and the host.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: vganapat@gru.edu.
authors: Vadivel
authors: V
authors: Ganapathy
authors: Muthusamy
authors: M
authors: Thangaraju
authors: Puttur D
authors: PD
authors: Prasad
authors: Pamela M
authors: PM
authors: Martin
authors: Nagendra
authors: N
authors: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface