Microbial desulfonation pathways for natural and pharmacologically relevant C3 sulfonates

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Alasdair M. Cook
• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 33360182

C3 sulfonates are both natural compounds and xenobiotics, examples of which are subject to bacterial degradation. Widespread natural products are L-cysteate (3-sulfo-2-aminopropionate) and sulfolactate where an initial understanding of the bacterial desulfonation is available. Homotaurine (3-aminopropanesulfonate) and its derivatives are (i) pharmacologically relevant in the treatement of Alzheimer´s disease, stroke or alcoholism, and (ii) widly used as surfactants or buffers in chemistry. Little is known about the presumably oxygenolytic desulfonation of homotaurine and the related propane-1,3-disulfonate. A project for a PhD thesis involves physiological, biochemical and genetic methods to establish complete degradative pathways for these synthetic C3 sulfonates. Homotaurine is used by bacteria as a carbon or as a nitrogen source, and different degradative pathways are anticipated. We are most interested in the desulfonative enzymes, the corresponding genes, their regulation and in identifying the transporters. Two extensive HiWi projects will expand our knowledge on the degradation of the natural C3 sulfonates and explore the first known desulfonation reaction in an archeon.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr. Theo H. M. Smits