title: The effect of quercetin on genetic expression of the commensal gut microbes Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Enterococcus caccae and Ruminococcus gauvreauii.
abstract: Quercetin is one of the most abundant polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables. The ability of the gut microbiota to metabolize quercetin has been previously documented; however, the effect that quercetin may have on commensal gut microbes remains unclear. In the present study, the effects of quercetin on the commensal gut microbes Ruminococcus gauvreauii, Bifidobacterium catenulatum and Enterococcus caccae were determined through evaluation of growth patterns and cell morphology, and analysis of genetic expression profiles between quercetin treated and non-treated groups using Single Molecule RNA sequencing via Helicos technology. Results of this study revealed that phenotypically, quercetin did not prevent growth of Ruminococcus gauvreauii, mildly suppressed growth of Bifidobacterium catenulatum, and moderately inhibited growth of Enterococcus caccae. Genetic analysis revealed that in response to quercetin, Ruminococcus gauvreauii down regulated genes responsible for protein folding, purine synthesis and metabolism. Bifidobacterium catenulatum increased expression of the ABC transport pathway and decreased metabolic pathways and cell wall synthesis. Enterococcus caccae upregulated genes responsible for energy production and metabolism, and downregulated pathways of stress response, translation and sugar transport. For the first time, the effect of quercetin on the growth and genetic expression of three different commensal gut bacteria was documented. The data provides insight into the interactions between genetic regulation and growth. This is also a unique demonstration of how RNA single molecule sequencing can be used to study the gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: Dairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA. Electronic address: Jenni.Firrman@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Firrman
authors.affiliation: Dairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA.
authors.forename: LinShu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Department of Computer Science, 1425 S Main St., Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Liqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Department of Computer Science, 1425 S Main St., Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arango Argoty
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, Department of Food Science, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Minqian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Dairy and Functional Foods Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomasula
authors.affiliation: Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8642, Japan.
authors.forename: Masuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobori
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pontious
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017510:Protein Folding / Q000187:drug effects; D011687:Purines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045857:Ruminococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D059808:Polyphenols; D011687:Purines; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: Gene expression; Gut microbiota; Helicos technology; Polyphenol; Quercetin; Single molecule RNA sequencing