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Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists01:23

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

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Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives01:20

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Laxatives are primarily used to alleviate constipation, a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools. They work by various mechanisms to increase the volume or frequency of bowel movements. The primary modes of action of laxatives include increasing stool bulk, softening the stool, stimulating intestinal motility, and osmotically drawing water into the intestines.
Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives01:22

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Laxatives enhance bowel movements and alleviate constipation. They augment the stool's bulk, stimulate intestinal muscle contractions, draw water into the intestines, or soften the stool. There are five key types of laxatives: bulk laxatives, stimulant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This...
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Repressible Operon: trp Operon01:21

Repressible Operon: trp Operon

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The trp operon in Escherichia coli exemplifies a repressible operon. It regulates the synthesis of tryptophan through repressor-mediated transcriptional control and attenuation. This dual regulatory mechanism ensures tryptophan biosynthesis occurs only when needed, conserving cellular resources.Structure of the trp OperonThe trp operon consists of five structural genes (trpE, trpD, trpC, trpB, and trpA) that encode enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis. These genes are transcribed as a single...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

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Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

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Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2025

PCR Mutagenesis, Cloning, Expression, Fast Protein Purification Protocols and Crystallization of the Wild Type and Mutant Forms of Tryptophan Synthase
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Tryptophan-synthesizing bacteria enhance colonic motility.

Theresa B Legan1, Brigitte Lavoie1, Emilia Norberg1

  • 1Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.

Neurogastroenterology and Motility
|June 26, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Certain bacteria can enhance gut motility by producing tryptophan (Trp), a precursor to serotonin (5-HT). This study shows Bacillus subtilis boosts Trp levels and accelerates colonic motility, involving the serotonin 5-HT4 receptor.

Keywords:
enteric nervous systemgut microbiotaintestinal motilitymicrobial metabolitestryptophan synthase

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Gut Physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Motility Research
  • Microbiome-Host Interactions

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility is increasingly treated with isolated bacteria.
  • Mechanisms underlying bacterial treatment for GI dysmotility are not well understood.
  • This study explores bacterial production of tryptophan (Trp) to enhance intestinal motility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of bacterial tryptophan synthesis in promoting intestinal motility.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which bacteria influence gut motility via tryptophan and serotonin pathways.
  • To evaluate the involvement of the serotonin 5-HT4 receptor in bacterial-mediated prokinetic effects.

Main Methods:

  • Oral gavage administration of Bacillus subtilis strains (R0179, tryptophan synthase-null 1A2) or heat-inactivated bacteria in mice.
  • Measurement of tissue levels of tryptophan (Trp), serotonin (5-HT), and 5-HIAA.
  • Assessment of colonic motility in healthy and constipated mouse models, with and without 5-HT4 receptor antagonists or in knockout mice.

Main Results:

  • Bacillus subtilis R0179 treatment increased colonic Trp and 5-HIAA levels.
  • B. subtilis R0179 accelerated colonic motility in healthy and constipated mice.
  • Prokinetic effects were dependent on live bacteria expressing tryptophan synthase and involved the 5-HT4 receptor.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteria synthesizing Trp can augment intestinal motility, potentially via enhanced serotonin signaling.
  • The findings highlight a novel mechanism involving tryptophan metabolism and the 5-HT4 receptor in bacterial-mediated gut motility.
  • This provides mechanistic insight into using specific bacteria to promote GI motility.