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Metabolic differences underlying two distinct rat urinary phenotypes, a suggested role for gut microbial metabolism of phenylalanine and a possible connection to autism
Author(s) -
Clayton T. Andrew
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.049
Subject(s) - phenylalanine , phenylalanine ammonia lyase , metabolism , gut flora , phenotype , biochemistry , cinnamic acid , biology , tryptophan metabolism , microbial metabolism , glycine , metabolic pathway , tryptophan , amino acid , chemistry , genetics , bacteria , gene
A novel explanation is proposed for the metabolic differences underlying two distinct rat urinary compositional phenotypes i.e. that these may arise from differences in the gut microbially‐mediated metabolism of phenylalanine. As part of this hypothesis, it is further suggested that elements of the mammalian gut microbiota may convert phenylalanine to cinnamic acid, either by means of an ammonia lyase‐type reaction or by means of a three step route via phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate. The wider significance of such conversions is discussed with similar metabolism of tryptophan and subsequent glycine conjugation potentially explaining the origin of trans‐indolylacryloylglycine, a postulated marker for autism.