Novel microbially transformed bile acids: Biosynthesis, structure, and function.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Biochemistry
• Human Health and Disease

Background:

• Gut microbiota significantly influence human health through the modification of bile acids.
• Recent advancements have identified numerous novel microbially modified bile acids, expanding the known bile acid pool and bioactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the structure, enzymes, functions, and bacterial production of recently identified microbially modified bile acids.
• To highlight the potential of these novel bile acids as therapeutic drug candidates.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing existing research on microbially modified bile acids.
• Analysis of identified bile acid derivatives, their producing bacteria, and associated functions.

Main Results:

• Numerous novel bile acid derivatives were identified, including amino-conjugated, amine-conjugated, and acylated forms.
• These compounds exhibit diverse bioactivities, such as immunoregulation, receptor modulation, and antimicrobial effects.
• Specific bacterial species were linked to the production of various modified bile acids.

Conclusions:

• Microbially modified bile acids represent a rich source of novel bioactive compounds.
• These derivatives play crucial roles in both physiological processes and diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
• Further research into these compounds may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.