Metabolic Reconstruction for Metagenomic Data and Its Application to the Human Microbiome
Figure 5
Gene- and module-specific reconstruction of glycosaminoglycan degradation specific to the gut microbiota.
A) Individual gene family abundances for four gut-specific high abundance modules: chondroitin, dermatan, and keratan sulfate degradation (glycosaminoglycan degradation, also including heparan sulfate), and uronic acid metabolism (occurring directly downstream in the pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway). Relative abundance is shown from dark (high) to light (low) green, averaged over 136 stool microbiomes, with enzymes not present in the KEGG Orthology in gray. Heparan degradation is absent specifically due to the lack of heparanase (K07964-5), but no one gene family is otherwise responsible for the high abundances of the remaining four modules in the gut, despite several shared enzymes (e.g. beta-glucuronidase, K01195). B) Relative abundances of all five modules in all body habitats and samples, demonstrating gut-specific prevalence. Despite the close connections among these pathways, they show distinct patterns of relative abundance specific to the gut and covary at very low abundance in the oropharynx.