title: Role of bifidobacteria in the hydrolysis of chlorogenic acid.
abstract: This study aimed to explore the capability of potentially probiotic bifidobacteria to hydrolyze chlorogenic acid into caffeic acid (CA), and to recognize the enzymes involved in this reaction. Bifidobacterium strains belonging to eight species occurring in the human gut were screened. The hydrolysis seemed peculiar of Bifidobacterium animalis, whereas the other species failed to release CA. Intracellular feruloyl esterase activity capable of hydrolyzing chlorogenic acid was detected only in B. animalis. In silico research among bifidobacteria esterases identified Balat_0669 as the cytosolic enzyme likely responsible of CA release in B. animalis. Comparative modeling of Balat_0669 and molecular docking studies support its role in chlorogenic acid hydrolysis. Expression, purification, and functional characterization of Balat_0669 in Escherichia coli were obtained as further validation. A possible role of B. animalis in the activation of hydroxycinnamic acids was demonstrated and new perspectives were opened in the development of new probiotics, specifically selected for the enhanced bioconversion of phytochemicals into bioactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anighoro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quartieri
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaretti
authors.forename: Francisco A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tomás-Barberán
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rastelli
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000201:enzymology*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C070196:feruloyl esterase; C040048:caffeic acid
keywords: Bifidobacteria; Bifidobacterium animalis; caffeic acid; chlorogenic acid; feruloyl esterase; hydroxycinnamic acids; probiotics