Open AccessIn vitro co-metabolism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) by the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila
Author(s) -
Yun Xia,
Xuxiang Zhang,
Mingxin Jiang,
Hongbo Zhang,
Yinfeng Wang,
Yuyu Zhang,
Robert J. Seviour,
Yunhong Kong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0260757
Subject(s) - akkermansia muciniphila , biochemistry , mucin , polyphenol , chemistry , metabolism , biology , prebiotic , microbiology and biotechnology , gut flora , antioxidant
Akkermansia muciniphila is a Gram-negative bacterium that resides within the gut mucus layer, and plays an important role in promoting gut barrier integrity, modulating the immune response and inhibiting gut inflammation. Growth stimulation of A . muciniphila by polyphenols including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from difference sources is well-documented. However, no published in vitro culture data on utilization of polyphenols by A . muciniphila are available, and the mechanism of growth-stimulating prebiotic effect of polyphenols on it remains unclear. Here in vitro culture studies have been carried out on the metabolism of EGCG by A . muciniphila in the presence of either mucin or glucose. We found that A . muciniphila did not metabolize EGCG alone but could co-metabolize it together with both these substrates in the presence of mineral salts and amino acids for mucin and protein sources for glucose. Our metabolomic data show that A . muciniphila converts EGCG to gallic acid, epigallocatechin, and (-)-epicatechin through ester hydrolysis. The (-)-epicatechin formed is then further converted to hydroxyhydroquinone. Co-metabolism of A . muciniphila of EGCG together with either mucin or glucose promoted substantially its growth, which serves as a further demonstration of the growth-promoting effect of polyphenols on A . muciniphila and provides an important addition to the currently available proposed mechanisms of polyphenolic prebiotic effects on A . muciniphila .