Degradation of Cinnamate via β-Oxidation to Benzoate by a Defined, Syntrophic Consortium of Anaerobic Bacteria

Abstract

A syntrophic consortium was enriched in a basal medium containing cinnamate as the carbon and energy source. It was found to consist of three morphologically distinct microbes, viz., a short, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium with distinctly pointed ends, Papillibacter cinnamivorans; a rod-shaped, motile bacterium with rounded ends, Syntrophus sp.; and a methanoarchaeon, Methanobacterium sp. This methanogen was then replaced by a collection strain of Methanobacterium formicicum. A syntrophic interdependency of the three partners of the consortium was observed during growth on cinnamate. In the presence of bromoethanesulfonic acid (BESA), cinnamate was transformed to benzoate, whereas under methanogenic conditions without BESA, cinnamate was first transformed to benzoate via beta-oxidation and subsequently completely degraded into acetate, CH(4), and CO(2). Papillibacter cinnamivorans was responsible for benzoate production from cinnamate, whereas a syntrophic association between Syntrophus sp. and the methanogen degraded benzoate to acetate, CH(4), and CO(2). A new anaerobic degradation pathway of cinnamate into benzoate via beta-oxidation by a pure culture of P. cinnamivorans is proposed.

Proteogenomic evidence for β‐oxidation of plant‐derived 3‐phenylpropanoids in “Aromatoleum aromaticum” EbN1

“…The same pathway was recently also suggested for the anaerobic degradation of p ‐coumarate in the phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA010 involving 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde formation from p ‐coumaroyl‐CoA [], whereas R. palustris DEP100 degrades cinnamate anaerobically by conventional β‐oxidation of the side chain yielding acetyl‐CoA and benzoyl‐CoA []. Similarly, β‐oxidation was also suggested for other anaerobically [] and aerobically [] cinnamate‐degrading bacteria.…”

The Dynamic Distribution of Small-Tail Han Sheep Microbiota across Different Intestinal Segments

“…The number of Ruminococcus overrepresented in the jejunum may indicate that carbohydrate metabolism is active in the metenteron of small-tail Han sheep. In addition, some Ruminococcus are involved in biological hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acid ( Huws et al, 2011 ) and degrade aromatic compounds, cinnamic acid, and crotonic acid ester ( Defnoun et al, 2003 ).…”

Dietary supplementation with the clay mineral palygorskite affects performance and beneficially modulates caecal microbiota in laying pullets

“…Papillibacter cinnamivorans —the only known member of the Papillibacter genus—is capable of transforming cinnamate to produce acetate and benzoate (Defnoun et al . , ). Cinnamate is a precursor for lignin biosynthesis (Peng et al .…”

“…Paraprevotella species like Paraprevotella clara and Paraprevotella xylaniphila are known as xylan-utilizing and succinate producing bacteria (Morotomi et al 2009). Papillibacter cinnamivorans-the only known member of the Papillibacter genus-is capable of transforming cinnamate to produce acetate and benzoate (Defnoun et al 2000(Defnoun et al , 2003. Cinnamate is a precursor for lignin biosynthesis (Peng et al 2003).…”