There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables, some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites, small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to study a particular bacterium commonly found in the gut of people who eat a plant-rich diet.
The specifics of how bacteria break down our food is still a “black box,” according to Dr. Harry Brumer, the UBC professor who led this research. “Our team is trying to determine what molecular machinery the bacteria have that give them the unique ability to break down dietary fiber,” he said.
Using ultrabright synchrotron X-rays at the CLS and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource in California, Brumer and colleagues determined the three-dimensional structure and function of the proteins and enzymes this bacterium uses to break down food, and the details of that process.
“The CLS made it possible for us to study these mechanics on the atomic level,” said Brumer. “It’s really cool to understand how gut bacteria perform those complex processes and contribute to our health.” The team published their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Read more on CLS website