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Identification of host‐microbiota signaling molecules with High‐Resolution Metabolomics
Author(s) -
Liu Ken,
Saeedi Bejan,
Darby Trevor,
Ganesh Thota,
Jones Rheinallt,
Neish Andrew,
Jones Dean P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.530.13
Subject(s) - metabolomics , metabolism , metabolite , metabolic pathway , biology , gut flora , biochemistry , microbiome , bacteria , citric acid cycle , cell signaling , signal transduction , amino acid , computational biology , bioinformatics , genetics
Human metabolism evolved in the presence of the microbiota. Products of bacterial metabolism can be used directly to support host metabolism (succinate, amino acids) or act as signaling molecules (butyrate, n‐acyl amides). Thus, identifying bacterial metabolites and their role as metabolic intermediates or signaling molecules could lead to new microbiome therapeutic strategies. Using mass spectrometry based High‐Resolution Metabolomics (HRM), we analyzed samples of mouse stool, liver, serum, and brain tissues collected from germ‐free, conventionalized, and altered Schaedler's flora (ASF) mice to identify metabolites enriched in conventional mice. Differentially expressed metabolites belonged to a number of amino acid and citric acid cycle pathways, indicating that gut bacteria alter peripheral tissue metabolic profiles. Furthermore, we identified a previously uncharacterized bacterial metabolite (VB005), whose biological activity is currently unknown. Computational tools for target prediction (SEA) and pathway enrichment analysis (mummichog) suggest that this molecule may be involved in host‐receptor signaling processes and participate in fatty acid metabolism. While these predictions are currently being evaluated, further HRM studies will continue to illuminate the dynamic nature of host‐microbiota signaling. Support or Funding Information NIEHS P30ES019776, NIEHS R01ES023485, NIH T32‐GM008602 This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .