Conversion of daidzein and genistein by an anaerobic bacterium newly isolated from the mouse intestine

Anastasia Matthies, Thomas Clavel, Michael Gütschow, Wolfram Engst, Dirk Haller, Michael Blaut, Annett Braune

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

The metabolism of isoflavones by gut bacteria plays a key role in the availability and bioactivation of these compounds in the intestine. Daidzein and genistein are the most common dietary soy isoflavones. While daidzein conversion yielding equol has been known for some time, the corresponding formation of 5-hydroxy-equol from genistein has not been reported previously. We isolated a strictly anaerobic bacterium (MtlB8) from the mouse intestine which converted daidzein via dihydrodaidzein to equol as well as genistein via dihydrogenistein to 5-hydroxy-equol. Strain Mt1B8 was a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium identified as a member of the Coriobacteriaceae. Strain Mt1B8 also transformed dihydrodaidzein and dihydrogenistein to equol and 5-hydroxy-equol, respectively. The conversion of daidzein, genistein, dihydrodaidzein, and dihydrogenistein in the stationary growth phase depended on preincubation with the corresponding isoflavonoid, indicating enzyme induction. Moreover, dihydrogenistein was transformed even more rapidly in the stationary phase when strain Mt1B8 was grown on either genistein or daidzein. Growing the cells on daidzein also enabled conversion of genistein. This suggests that the same enzymes are involved in the conversion of the two isoflavones.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4847-4852
Number of pages6
JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume74
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2008

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