Gut microbiota carbohydrate-active enzymes and fiber-fermenting bacterial taxa (CAZymes)

Gut microbiota carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and fiber-fermenting bacterial taxa constitute a complex functional network essential for human metabolic health. These enzymes, categorized into families such as glycoside hydrolases and polysaccharide lyases, are encoded by the gut microbiome to break down complex dietary fibers that escape host digestion (Lombard et al., 2014). The primary products of this fermentation are short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which serve as energy sources for colonocytes and signaling molecules for systemic immune and metabolic regulation (Koh et al., 2016). Dysregulation or depletion of these fermenting taxa and their associated CAZymes is linked to various pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (Flint et al., 2012). Therapeutic interventions often utilize prebiotics—non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of these bacteria—to enhance SCFA production and restore gut homeostasis (Gibson et al., 2017). Additionally, certain drugs like metformin have been shown to indirectly modulate the abundance of these taxa, contributing to their therapeutic efficacy (Wu et al., 2017). Understanding the specific CAZyme profiles within an individual's microbiome is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone for personalized nutrition and the development of next-generation microbiome-based therapeutics.

Other names

Carbohydrate-active enzymesFiber-degrading gut bacteriaGlycoside hydrolases (GHs)Polysaccharide lyases (PLs)Carbohydrate esterases (CEs)Commensal fermenters

Enzymatic conversion of dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which act as ligands for host G protein-coupled receptors (GPR41, GPR43, GPR109A) to regulate inflammation and metabolism.