title: Glycan complexity dictates microbial resource allocation in the large intestine.
abstract: The structure of the human gut microbiota is controlled primarily through the degradation of complex dietary carbohydrates, but the extent to which carbohydrate breakdown products are shared between members of the microbiota is unclear. We show here, using xylan as a model, that sharing the breakdown products of complex carbohydrates by key members of the microbiota, such as Bacteroides ovatus, is dependent on the complexity of the target glycan. Characterization of the extensive xylan degrading apparatus expressed by B. ovatus reveals that the breakdown of the polysaccharide by the human gut microbiota is significantly more complex than previous models suggested, which were based on the deconstruction of xylans containing limited monosaccharide side chains. Our report presents a highly complex and dynamic xylan degrading apparatus that is fine-tuned to recognize the different forms of the polysaccharide presented to the human gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogowski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tryfona
authors.affiliation: Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257 CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terrapon
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Elisabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baslé
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morland
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Hongjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Theresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Alastair R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038, USA.
authors.forename: Madhav P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: 1] Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257 CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France [2] Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henrissat
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dupree
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Harry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bolam
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D021381:Protein Transport; D014990:Xylans / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014990:Xylans