indolylacryloylglycine and hippuric-acid

A novel explanation is proposed for the metabolic differences underlying two distinct rat urinary compositional phenotypes i.e. that these may arise from differences in the gut microbially-mediated metabolism of phenylalanine. As part of this hypothesis, it is further suggested that elements of the mammalian gut microbiota may convert phenylalanine to cinnamic acid, either by means of an ammonia lyase-type reaction or by means of a three step route via phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate. The wider significance of such conversions is discussed with similar metabolism of tryptophan and subsequent glycine conjugation potentially explaining the origin of trans-indolylacryloylglycine, a postulated marker for autism.

Topics: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Bacterial Proteins; Biomarkers; Chlorogenic Acid; Clostridium; Disease Models, Animal; Fungal Proteins; Glycine; Hippurates; Humans; Intestines; Phenylalanine; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase; Rats; Stereoisomerism; Systems Biology; Tryptophan; Tyrosine; Yeasts