<i>In Vitro</i> Reconstitution of a Five-Step Pathway for Bacterial Ergothioneine Catabolism

Ergothioneine is a histidine-derived sulfur metabolite that biosynthesized by bacteria and fungi. Plants animals absorb ergothioneine as micronutrient from their environment or nutrition. Several different mechanisms of microbial production have been described in the past ten years. Much less known about genetic structural basis for catabolism. In this report, we describe vitro reconstitution five-step pathway degrades to l-glutamate, trimethylamine, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia. The first two steps are catalyzed enzymes ergothionase thiourocanate hydratase. These closely related histidine However, crystal structure hydratase firmicute Paenibacillus sp. reveals specific features strictly differentiate activity enzyme urocanate hydratases. final metal-dependent hydrolases share most homology with last uracil early late part connected an entirely new type catalyzes desulfurization thiohydantoin intermediate. Homologous encoded many soil-dwelling firmicutes proteobacteria, suggesting bacterial may significant impact on environmental availability ergothioneine.