A microbial sulfoquinovose monooxygenase pathway enables sulfosugar assimilation

16 July 2021, Version 3

Abstract

Breakdown of the sulfosugar sulfoquinovose (SQ, 6-deoxy-6-sulfoglucose), produced by photosynthetic organisms, is an important component of the biogeochemical carbon and sulfur cycles. Here, we reveal a new pathway for SQ degradation involving oxidative desulfurization to release sulfite and complete breakdown of the carbon skeleton of this sugar to support the growth of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. SQ or its glycoside sulfoquinovosyl glycerol are imported by an ABC transporter system with associated SQ binding protein. A sulfoquinovosidase cleaves the SQ glycoside and a flavin mononucleotide-dependent sulfoquinovose monooxygenase acts in concert with an NADH-dependent flavin reductase to release sulfite and form 6-oxo-glucose. A short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase oxidoreductase reduces 6-oxo-glucose to glucose, allowing it to enter primary metabolism. Structural and biochemical studies provide detailed insights into the binding and recognition of key species along the reaction coordinate. This sulfoquinovose monooxygenase pathway is distributed across alphaproteobacteria and especially within the rhizobiales. This metabolic strategy...

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
Actions
Title
Supplementary Material
Description
Supplementary Figures
Actions

Comments

Comments are not moderated before they are posted, but they can be removed by the site moderators if they are found to be in contravention of our Commenting Policy [opens in a new tab] - please read this policy before you post. Comments should be used for scholarly discussion of the content in question. You can find more information about how to use the commenting feature here [opens in a new tab] .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy [opens in a new tab] and Terms of Service [opens in a new tab] apply.