The biomedical relevance of microbial catabolic versatility
J. A. C. Archer
Department of Genetics
University of Cambridge
Cambridge
CB2 3EH
UK
Degenerative metabolic markers such as lipofuscin or atheroma
may be considered as classes of 'dead-end' substrates within the limited
mammalian metabolism. However, some microbial enzyme pathways are very
much more diverse and in some cases may be able to convert such substrates into
metabolically useful products. Recent genomic studies and cell assays indicate
that mycolic acid bacteria from the genus Rhodococcus can metabolise such
compounds. This presents an opportunity to engineer cellular or cell-free systems
that can are highly efficient in recycling lipofuschin or catabolising key recalcitrant
components of atherosclerotic plaques.
Key words:
lipofuscin atherosclerosis Rhodococcus catabolism
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