Tandem sulfofucolytic-sulfolactate sulfolyase pathway for catabolism of the rare sulfosugar sulfofucose

Abstract

The rare sulfosugar sulfofucose (6-deoxy-6-sulfo-D-galactose) is catabolized by Paracoccus wurundjeri sp. nov. strain Merri via a novel tandem pathway that couples sulfofucolytic and sulfolactate sulfolyase reactions. We isolated P. wurundjeri from soil and demonstrated its ability to utilize sulfofucose as the sole carbon source, leading to complete degradation of sulfofucose and release of sulfite. Proteomics and metabolomics analysis revealed a sulfofucolytic variant of the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway, wherein sulfofucose is converted to sulfolactaldehyde through oxidation, lactone hydrolysis, dehydration, and retro-aldol steps. The sulfolactaldehyde is subsequently degraded to pyruvate..