Gut microbiota carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme)

Gut microbiota carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are a vast array of enzymes encoded by the collective genomes of the intestinal microbiota that facilitate the breakdown, synthesis, and modification of complex carbohydrates. While the human genome contains fewer than 100 enzymes for carbohydrate digestion, the gut microbiome provides thousands of CAZymes, enabling the host to extract energy from otherwise indigestible dietary fibers and plant polysaccharides [1][2]. These enzymes, which include glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases, and polysaccharide lyases, convert complex glycans into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and acetate, which play critical roles in host immunity and metabolic health [3]. The specific profile of CAZymes within an individual's gut determines their capacity to ferment different types of fiber, influencing the production of beneficial metabolites [2]. Alterations in the abundance and diversity of CAZymes are linked to metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease [2][4]. Therapeutically, CAZymes are targeted by alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose to manage blood glucose levels by slowing the breakdown of starches [1]. Additionally, CAZymes are the primary targets of prebiotic interventions, where specific glycans are introduced to selectively enrich microbial taxa possessing the corresponding enzymatic machinery to restore gut homeostasis [3][4]. Sources: [1] Lombard V, et al. (2014). The Carbohydrate-active enzymes database (CAZy) in 2013. Nucleic Acids Res. [2] El Kaoutari A, et al. (2013). The abundance and variety of carbohydrate-active enzymes in the human gut microbiota. Nat Rev Microbiol. [3] Wardman JF, et al. (2022). Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in the gut microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol. [4] Louis P, et al. (2014). The gut microbiota, bacterial metabolites and colorectal cancer. Nat Rev Microbiol.

Other names

Carbohydrate-active enzymeMicrobial glycoside hydrolaseMicrobial glycosyltransferaseMicrobial polysaccharide lyaseMicrobial carbohydrate esterase

Competitive inhibition of microbial and host glycoside hydrolases to delay glucose absorption; selective substrate-driven enrichment of specific microbial taxa to modulate metabolite production.