Minhas, Gurdeep S., Bawdon, Daniel, Herman, Reyme et al. (5 more authors) (2018) Structural basis of malodour precursor transport in the human axilla. eLife. e34995. ISSN 2050-084X
Abstract
Mammals produce volatile odours that convey different types of societal information. In Homo sapiens, this is now recognised as body odour, a key chemical component of which is the sulphurous thioalcohol, 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3M3SH). Volatile 3M3SH is produced in the underarm as a result of specific microbial activity, which act on the odourless dipeptide-containing malodour precursor molecule, S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH, secreted in the axilla (underarm) during colonisation. The mechanism by which these bacteria recognise S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH and produce body odour is still poorly understood. Here we report the structural and biochemical basis of bacterial transport of S-Cys-Gly-3M3SH by Staphylococcus hominis, which is converted to the sulphurous thioalcohol component 3M3SH in the bacterial cytoplasm, before being released into the environment. Knowledge of the molecular basis of precursor transport, essential for body odour formation, provides a novel opportunity to design specific inhibitors of malodour production in humans.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2018, Minhas et al. |
Keywords: | Axilla/microbiology,Bacterial Proteins/chemistry,Binding Sites,Biological Transport,Biotransformation,Carrier Proteins/chemistry,Crystallography, X-Ray,Cytoplasm/metabolism,Dipeptides/chemistry,Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial,Hexanols/chemistry,Humans,Kinetics,Models, Molecular,Odorants/analysis,Protein Binding,Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical,Protein Conformation, beta-Strand,Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs,Recombinant Proteins/chemistry,Staphylococcus hominis/genetics,Substrate Specificity,Sulfanilic Acids/chemistry,Sweat/chemistry |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Chemistry (York) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC (BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL) D0024_Gavin Thomas_Unilever_PoC BBSRC (BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL) BB/L013703/1 |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 31 Jul 2018 17:00 |
Last Modified: | 02 Apr 2025 23:13 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.34995 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.7554/eLife.34995 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:133987 |
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Filename: Thomas_Revised_Ms_16.06.18.docx
Description: Thomas - Revised Ms 16.06.18