Microbiota metabolism of intestinal amino acids impacts host nutrient homeostasis and physiology

The intestine and liver are thought to metabolize dietary nutrients and regulate host nutrient homeostasis. Here, we find that the gut microbiota also reshapes the host amino acid (AA) landscape via efficiently metabolizing intestinal amino acids. To identify the responsible microbes/genes, we developed a metabolomics-based assay to screen 104 commensals and identified candidates that utilize intestinal AAs. Using genetics, we identified multiple responsible metabolic genes in phylogenetically-diverse microbes. By colonizing germ-free mice with the wild-type strain and their isogenic mutant deficient in individual AA-metabolizing genes, we found that these genes regulate the availability of gut and circulatory AAs. Notably, microbiota genes for branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and tryptophan metabolism indirectly affect host glucose homeostasis via peripheral serotonin. Collectively, at single gene level, this work characterizes a microbiota-encoded metabolic activity that affects host nutrient homeostasis and provides a roadmap to interrogate microbiota-dependent activity to improve human health.