Discovery of a bacterial gene cluster for deglycosylation of the toxic potato steroidal glycoalkaloids α-chaconine and α-solanine

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Potato juice is a by-product of starch processing currently used as feed. However, potato proteins are an untapped source of high-protein food for human nutrition if harmful constituents notably glycoalkaloids (GAs) are detoxified. The two principle GAs found in potato are α-chaconine and α-solanine, both consisting of a solanidine aglycone with a carbohydrate side-chain. The first step in the detoxification of these compounds is removal of the trisaccharide. Whole-genome sequencing of a bacterial isolate, Arthrobacter sp. S41, that degrade completely α-chaconine and α-solanine revealed the presence of a gene cluster possibly involved in the deglycosylation of GAs. Functional characterization confirmed the enzymatic activity of the gene cluster involved in the complete deglycosylation of both α-chaconine and α-solanine. The novel enzymes described here may find value in the bioconversion of feed proteins to food proteins suitable for human nutrition.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Volume68
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1390-1396
Number of pages7
ISSN0021-8561
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

ID: 234346842