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Escherichia coli small molecule metabolism at the host–microorganism interface

Nature Chemical Biology volume 17, pages 1016–1026 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Escherichia coli are a common component of the human microbiota, and isolates exhibit probiotic, commensal and pathogenic roles in the host. E. coli members often use diverse small molecule chemistry to regulate intrabacterial, intermicrobial and host–bacterial interactions. While E. coli are considered to be a well-studied model organism in biology, much of their chemical arsenal has only more recently been defined, and much remains to be explored. Here we describe chemical signaling systems in E. coli in the context of the broader field of metabolism at the host–bacteria interface and the role of this signaling in disease modulation.

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Fig. 1: Gram-negative QS synthases and E. coli receptors.
Fig. 2: Aromatic amino acid-containing bacterial small molecules and their proposed mechanisms of action.
Fig. 3: MccB17 biological mechanisms.
Fig. 4: Siderophore chemical structures and their interactions within the human gut.
Fig. 5: Proposed biosynthesis and biology of colibactin.
Fig. 6: cdN signaling defense pathways in bacteria and mammalian cells.

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Acknowledgements

Our work on E. coli metabolism at the host–microorganism interface is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01CA215553), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (1016720), the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation (TC-17-011), the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center (18-001952) and Yale University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Alexandra Gatsios, Chung Sub Kim & Jason M. Crawford

  2. Institute of Biomolecular Design & Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA

    Alexandra Gatsios, Chung Sub Kim & Jason M. Crawford

  3. School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

    Chung Sub Kim

  4. Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Jason M. Crawford

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  1. Alexandra Gatsios
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A.G. prepared the figures and text. A.G., C.S.K. and J.M.C. discussed, reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jason M. Crawford.

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Gatsios, A., Kim, C.S. & Crawford, J.M. Escherichia coli small molecule metabolism at the host–microorganism interface. Nat Chem Biol 17, 1016–1026 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00807-5

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