Matching the β-oxidation gene repertoire with the wide diversity of fatty acids

• Published in: Current opinion in microbiology 2024-02, Vol.77, p.102402-102402, Article 102402
• Main Authors: Schiaffi, Veronica, Barras, Frédéric, Bouveret, Emmanuelle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acetyl coenzyme A; acyl coenzyme A; Bacteriology; carbon; Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases - metabolism; catabolism; energy; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism; genes; isomerases; Isomerases - metabolism; Life Sciences; microbiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Oxidation-Reduction; oxidoreductases; tricarboxylic acid cycle
• ISSN: 1369-5274; 1879-0364; 1369-5274
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102402

Bacteria can use fatty acids (FAs) from their environment as carbon and energy source. This catabolism is performed by the enzymes of the well-known β-oxidation machinery, producing reducing power and releasing acetyl-CoA that can feed the tricarboxylic acid cycle. FAs are extremely diverse: they can be saturated or (poly)unsaturated and are found in different sizes. The need to degrade such a wide variety of compounds may explain why so many seemingly homologous enzymes are found for each step of the β-oxidation cycle. In addition, the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids requires specific auxiliary enzymes for isomerase and reductase reactions. Furthermore, the β-oxidation cycle can be blocked by dead-end products, which are taken care of by acyl-CoA thioesterases. Yet, the functional characterization of the enzymes required for the degradation of the full diversity of FAs remains to be documented in most bacteria.