Short Communication - Research and Reports in Immunology (2021) Volume 4, Issue 1

The cellular location of endo-acting galactanases confers keystone or recipient status to arabinogalactan degrading organisms of the human gut microbiota.

Glycans, the major source of energy for the human gut microbiota (HGM), are metabolized primarily by the Bacteroides genus. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are a higher heterogenous group of plant glycans in which the ?1, 3-galactan backbone and ?1, 6-galactan side chains are conserved features. Diversity is provided by the extensive and highly variable nature of the sugars that decorate both the backbone and side chain galactans. The mechanisms by which nutritionally relevant AGPs are degraded at a cellular and biochemical level are poorly understood, as is the impact of this process on the ecology of the HGM. 

Author(s): Jose Munoz

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