The discovery of this enzyme, called bilirubin reductase, paves the way for additional research study into the gut microbiomes function in conditions like jaundice and inflammatory bowel disease.Enzyme Unraveling Biological Mysteries”This enzyme discovery lastly deciphers the mystery behind urines yellow color,” stated the studys lead author Brantley Hall, an assistant teacher in the University of Marylands Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics.”Gut microorganisms encode the enzyme bilirubin reductase that transforms bilirubin into a colorless by-product called urobilinogen,” discussed Hall, who has a joint consultation in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.”Now that weve determined this enzyme, we can begin examining how the germs in our gut effect distributing bilirubin levels and related health conditions like jaundice,” said research study co-author and NIH Investigator Xiaofang Jiang.”This short article was adapted from text provided by Brantley Hall and Sophia Levy.Reference: “BilR is a gut microbial enzyme that decreases bilirubin to urobilinogen” by Brantley Hall, Sophia Levy, Keith Dufault-Thompson, Gabriela Arp, Aoshu Zhong, Glory Minabou Ndjite, Ashley Weiss, Domenick Braccia, Conor Jenkins, Maggie R. Grant, Stephenie Abeysinghe, Yiyan Yang, Madison D. Jermain, Chih Hao Wu, Bing Ma and Xiaofang Jiang, 3 January 2024, Nature Microbiology.DOI: 10.1038/ s41564-023-01549-xIn addition to Hall, UMD-affiliated co-authors consisted of Stephenie Abeysinghe (B.S. 23, public health science); Domenick Braccia (Ph.D. 22, biological sciences); biological sciences major Maggie Grant; biochemistry Ph.D. trainee Conor Jenkins; biological sciences Ph.D. students Gabriela Arp (B.S. 19, public health science; B.A. 19, Spanish language), Madison Jermain, Sophia Levy (B.S. 19, chemical engineering; B.S. 19, biological sciences) and Chih Hao Wu (B.S. 21, biological sciences); Glory Minabou Ndjite (B.S. 22, public health science); and Ashley Weiss (B.S. 22, biological sciences).
“Gut microbes encode the enzyme bilirubin reductase that converts bilirubin into a colorless by-product called urobilinogen,” explained Hall, who has a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.”Now that weve determined this enzyme, we can start investigating how the bacteria in our gut impact circulating bilirubin levels and associated health conditions like jaundice,” said research study co-author and NIH Investigator Xiaofang Jiang.”This article was adapted from text supplied by Brantley Hall and Sophia Levy.Reference: “BilR is a gut microbial enzyme that minimizes bilirubin to urobilinogen” by Brantley Hall, Sophia Levy, Keith Dufault-Thompson, Gabriela Arp, Aoshu Zhong, Glory Minabou Ndjite, Ashley Weiss, Domenick Braccia, Conor Jenkins, Maggie R. Grant, Stephenie Abeysinghe, Yiyan Yang, Madison D. Jermain, Chih Hao Wu, Bing Ma and Xiaofang Jiang, 3 January 2024, Nature Microbiology.DOI: 10.1038/ s41564-023-01549-xIn addition to Hall, UMD-affiliated co-authors included Stephenie Abeysinghe (B.S. 23, public health science); Domenick Braccia (Ph.D. 22, biological sciences); biological sciences major Maggie Grant; biochemistry Ph.D. student Conor Jenkins; biological sciences Ph.D. trainees Gabriela Arp (B.S. 19, public health science; B.A. 19, Spanish language), Madison Jermain, Sophia Levy (B.S. 19, chemical engineering; B.S. 19, biological sciences) and Chih Hao Wu (B.S. 21, biological sciences); Glory Minabou Ndjite (B.S. 22, public health science); and Ashley Weiss (B.S. 22, biological sciences).