Captivity Influences the Gut Microbiome of Rhinopithecus roxellana

Ex situ (captivity in zoos) is regarded as an important form of conservation for endangered animals. Many studies have compared differences in the gut microbiome between captive and wild animals, but few have explained those differences at the functional level due to the limited amount of 16S rRNA data. Here, we compared the gut microbiome of captive and wild Rhinopithecus roxellana, whose high degree of dietary specificity makes it a good subject to observe the effects of the captive environment on their gut microbiome, by performing a metagenome-wide association study (MWAS). The Chao1 index was significantly higher in the captive R. roxellana cohort than in the wild cohort, and the Shannon index of captive R. roxellana was higher than that of the wild cohort but the difference was not significant. A significantly increased ratio of Prevotella/Bacteroides, which revealed an increased ability to digest simple carbohydrates, was found in the captive cohort. A significant decrease in the abundance of Firmicutes and enrichment of genes related to the pentose phosphate pathway were noted in the captive cohort, indicating a decreased ability of captive monkeys to digest fiber. Additionally, genes required for glutamate biosynthesis were also significantly more abundant in the captive cohort than in the wild cohort. These changes in the gut microbiome correspond to changes in the composition of the diet in captive animals, which has more simple carbohydrates and less crude fiber and protein than the diet of the wild animals. In addition, more unique bacteria in captive R. roxellana were involved in antibiotic resistance (Acinetobacter) and diarrhea (Desulfovibrio piger), and in the prevention of diarrhea (Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens) caused by Clostridioides difficile. Accordingly, our data reveal the cause-and-effect relationships between changes in the exact dietary composition and changes in the gut microbiome on both the structural and functional levels by comparing of captive and wild R. roxellana.

Metabolic flux from the Krebs cycle to glutamate transmission tunes a neural brake on seizure onset

Kohlschütter-Tönz syndrome (KTS) manifests as neurological dysfunctions, including early-onset seizures. Mutations in the citrate transporter SLC13A5 are associated with KTS, yet their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that a Drosophila SLC13A5 homolog, I’m not dead yet (Indy), constitutes a neurometabolic pathway that suppresses seizure. Loss of Indy function in glutamatergic neurons caused “bang-induced” seizure-like behaviors. In fact, glutamate biosynthesis from the citric acid cycle was limiting in Indy mutants for seizure-suppressing glutamate transmission. Oral administration of the rate-limiting α-ketoglutarate in the metabolic pathway rescued low glutamate levels in Indy mutants and ameliorated their seizure-like behaviors. This metabolic control of the seizure susceptibility was mapped to a pair of glutamatergic neurons, reversible by optogenetic controls of their activity, and further relayed onto fan-shaped body neurons via the ionotropic glutamate receptors. Accordingly, our findings reveal a micro-circuit that links neural metabolism to seizure, providing important clues to KTS-associated neurodevelopmental deficits.

SwrA as global modulator of the two-component system DegS/U in B. subtilis

The two-component system DegS/U of Bacillus subtilis controls more than one hundred genes involved in several different cellular behaviours. Since the consensus sequence recognized by the response regulator DegU has not been clearly defined yet, mutations in either component have been crucial in the identification of the cellular targets of this regulatory system. Over the years, the degU32Hy mutant allele, that was supposed to mimic the activated regulator, has been commonly used to define the impact of this TCS on its regulated genes in domestic strains. SwrA encodes a small protein essential for swarming motility and for poly-γ-glutamate biosynthesis and is only present in wild strains. Previous work indicated that SwrA is partnering with DegU~P in exerting its role on both phenotypes. In this work, inserting a degS200Hy mutation in swrA+ and swrA- isogenic strains we demonstrate that SwrA modulates the action of DegU~P on two new phenotypes, subtilisin expression and competence for DNA uptake, with a remarkable effect on transformation. These effects cannot not be appreciated with the DegU32Hy mutant as it does not mirror the wild-type DegU protein in its ability to interact with SwrA.

A phase Ib trial of CB-839 (telaglenastat) in combination with radiation therapy and temozolomide in patients with IDH-mutated diffuse astrocytoma and anaplastic astrocytoma (NCT03528642).

TPS2075 Background: IDH mutant astrocytomas express high levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), an oncogenic metabolite which drives gliomagenesis. Excess 2-HG inhibits branched chain amino acid transaminase, which catalyzes glutamate synthesis from branched chain amino acids. This defect causes these tumors to become more reliant on glutaminase for glutamate biosynthesis from glutamine. CB-839 (telaglenastat) is a novel glutaminase inhibitor which is well tolerated in humans. McBrayer et al have recently demonstrated that CB-839 further depletes intracellular glutamate and glutathione in IDH mutant glioma cells, and enhances RT (radiation therapy) efficacy in an orthotopic glioma model. Methods: NCI #10218 is a CTEP supported phase I clinical trial investigating the safety and tolerability of CB-839 when combined with RT/TMZ (temozolomide) in patients with previously untreated IDH mutant grade II/III astrocytoma. Patients with grade II and III astrocytomas will be treated with 50.4 and 59.4 Gy of RT, respectively, with standard doses of concurrent TMZ. CB-839 will also be administered orally concurrently with RT, with doses escalated in cohorts based on a standard 3+3 design. After defining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CB-839, an expansion cohort will evaluate the pre- and post-CB-839 therapy metabolome of patients with IDH mutant astrocytoma. Enrollment to this cohort will require measurable disease and patients will additionally be treated with a 7 day run-in of CB-839 at MTD prior to RT. The effect of CB-839 on the metabolome will be studied in both plasma (LC/MS/MS) and tumor (magnetic resonance spectroscopy), along with PK to confirm adequacy of systemic exposure. Preliminary data on neurocognitive endpoints will also be acquired. NCI #10218 is currently activated for enrollment to cohort 1. Clinical trial information: NCT03528642.

Two Pathways for Glutamate Biosynthesis in the Syntrophic Bacterium Syntrophus aciditrophicus

ABSTRACTThe anaerobic metabolism of crotonate, benzoate, and cyclohexane carboxylate bySyntrophus aciditrophicusgrown syntrophically withMethanospirillum hungateiprovides a model to study syntrophic cooperation. Recent studies revealed thatS. aciditrophicuscontainsRe-citrate synthase but lacks the commonSi-citrate synthase. To establish whether theRe-citrate synthase is involved in glutamate synthesis via the oxidative branch of the Krebs cycle, we have used [1-13C]acetate and [1-14C]acetate as well as [13C]bicarbonate as additional carbon sources during axenic growth ofS. aciditrophicuson crotonate. Our analyses showed that labeled carbons were detected in at least 14 amino acids, indicating the global utilization of acetate and bicarbonate. The labeling patterns of alanine and aspartate verified that pyruvate and oxaloacetate were synthesized by consecutive carboxylations of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA). The isotopomer profile and13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the obtained [13C]glutamate, as well as decarboxylation of [14C]glutamate, revealed that this amino acid was synthesized by two pathways. Unexpectedly, only the minor route usedRe-citrate synthase (30 to 40%), whereas the majority of glutamate was synthesized via the reductive carboxylation of succinate. This symmetrical intermediate could have been formed from two acetates via hydration of crotonyl-CoA to 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. 4-Hydroxybutyrate was detected in the medium ofS. aciditrophicuswhen grown on crotonate, but an active hydratase could not be measured in cell extracts, and the annotated 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (SYN_02445) lacks key amino acids needed to catalyze the hydration of crotonyl-CoA. BesidesClostridium kluyveri, this study reveals the second example of a microbial species to employ two pathways for glutamate synthesis.