Gut microbial glycoside hydrolase (GH) (GH)

Gut microbial glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are a diverse group of enzymes produced by the intestinal microbiota that catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex carbohydrates (Lombard et al., 2014). These enzymes are essential for human health because they degrade dietary fibers and host-derived glycans that human enzymes cannot digest, leading to the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate (Kaoutari et al., 2013). Beyond nutrition, GHs play a critical role in pharmacology by metabolizing various drugs and xenobiotics; for instance, microbial beta-glucuronidases can reactivate excreted drug metabolites in the gut, leading to localized toxicity such as the severe diarrhea associated with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan (Wallace et al., 2010). Consequently, these enzymes are emerging as therapeutic targets for managing metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and for reducing the side effects of specific medications (Bhatt et al., 2017). However, targeting these enzymes requires high precision to avoid disrupting the delicate balance of the gut ecosystem and the production of essential microbial metabolites (Dashnyam et al., 2023).

Other names

GlycosidaseCarbohydrate-active enzymeCAZymeGut bacterial glycosidaseMicrobial beta-glucuronidase

Inhibition of microbial glycoside hydrolase activity to modulate the breakdown of complex carbohydrates or prevent the reactivation of glucuronidated drug metabolites in the intestine.