Dietary intake of phytate has various reported health benefits. Previous work showed that the gut microbiota can convert phytate to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), but the microbial species and metabolic pathway are unclear. Here we identified Mitsuokella jalaludinii as an efficient phytate degrader, which works synergistically with Anaerostipes rhamnosivorans to produce the SCFA propionate. Analysis of published human gut taxonomic profiles revealed that Mitsuokella spp., in particular M. jalaludinii, are prevalent in human gut microbiomes. NMR spectroscopy using ¹³C-isotope labelling, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified a complete phytate degradation pathway in M. jalaludinii, including production of the intermediate Ins(2)P/myo-inositol. The major end product, 3-hydroxypropionate, was converted into propionate via a synergistic interaction with Anaerostipes rhamnosivorans both in vitro and in mice. Upon [¹³C₆]phytate administration, various ¹³C-labelled components were detected in mouse caecum in contrast with the absence of [¹³C₆] InsPs or [¹³C₆]myo-inositol in plasma. Caco-2 cells incubated with co-culture supernatants exhibited improved intestinal barrier integrity. These results suggest that the microbiome plays a major role in the metabolism of this phytochemical and that its fermentation to propionate by M. jalaludinii and A. rhamnosivorans may contribute to phytate-driven health benefits.

据报道，膳食中摄入植酸具有多种健康益处。先前的工作表明肠道微生物群可以将植酸转化为短链脂肪酸（SCFA），但微生物种类和代谢途径尚不清楚。在这里，我们确定 Mitsuokella jalaludinii 是一种高效的植酸降解剂，它与鼠李糖厌氧菌协同作用，产生 SCFA 丙酸盐。对已发表的人类肠道分类学概况的分析表明，Mitsuokella spp.，特别是 M. jalaludinii，在人类肠道微生物组中普遍存在。使用 ¹³ C-同位素标记、代谢组学和转录组学分析的核磁共振波谱确定了 M. jalaludinii 中完整的植酸降解途径，包括中间体 Ins(2)P/肌醇的产生。主要最终产物 3-羟基丙酸在体外和小鼠体内通过与鼠李糖厌油菌的协同相互作用转化为丙酸。给予[ ¹³ C ₆ ]植酸盐后，在小鼠盲肠中检测到各种 ¹³ C标记的成分，而[ ¹³ C ₆ ] InsPs 或血浆中的 [ ¹³ C ₆ ] 肌醇。与共培养上清液一起孵育的 Caco-2 细胞表现出改善的肠道屏障完整性。这些结果表明，微生物组在这种植物化学物质的代谢中发挥着重要作用，并且 M. jalaludinii 和 A. rhamnosivorans 将其发酵为丙酸盐可能有助于植酸驱动的健康益处。