Open AccessMicrobes vs. chemistry in the origin of the anaerobic gut lumen
Author(s) -
Elliot S. Friedman,
Kyle Bittinger,
Tatiana V. Esipova,
Likai Hou,
Lillian Chau,
Jack Jiang,
Clementina Mesaros,
Peder J. Lund,
Xue Liang,
Garret A. FitzGerald,
Mark Goulian,
Daeyeon Lee,
Benjamin A. García,
Ian A. Blair,
Sergei A. Vinogradov,
Gary D. Wu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1718635115
Subject(s) - gut flora , oxygen , obligate anaerobe , biology , anaerobic exercise , lumen (anatomy) , microbial metabolism , microbiology and biotechnology , anaerobic bacteria , bacteria , biochemistry , chemistry , physiology , genetics , organic chemistry
Significance It is generally thought that the gut microbes consume oxygen and maintain the lumen in a deeply anaerobic state. However, we found that the gut of germ-free mice is also deeply anaerobic, suggesting that there exist other mechanisms responsible for oxygen consumption in addition to the microbes’ respiration. These mechanisms comprise oxidative reactions, such as the oxidation of lipids and other organic substrates. Both the microbiota and the oxidative chemistry regulate luminal oxygen levels that in turn influence the composition of the microbial communities throughout the intestinal tract.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom