Integrative characterization of algal sulfated-fucan catabolism in marine heterotrophic bacteria

These polysaccharides are particularly complex and structurally diverse, with multiple modifications (e.g. branches, sulfation, acetylation). A few bacterial enzymes involved in their biodegradation have been characterized but the catabolism of sulfated fucans remains largely uncharted.

In Mariniflexile fucanivorans SW5, we discovered and studied a large Polysaccharide Utilization locus (PUL) specific for sulfated fucans. More than 20 enzymes have been characterized providing a model system for sulfated fucans utilization by marine heterotrophic bacteria. We further studied the transcriptomic responses of M. fucanivorans SW5 to sulfated fucan utilization demonstrating that this large PUL is indeed induced by sulfated fucans.