Bacteria Boost Mammalian Host NAD Metabolism by Engaging the Deamidated Biosynthesis Pathway

Cell Metab. 2020 Mar 3;31(3):564-579.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.02.001.

Abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a cofactor for hundreds of metabolic reactions in all cell types, plays an essential role in metabolism, DNA repair, and aging. However, how NAD metabolism is impacted by the environment remains unclear. Here, we report an unexpected trans-kingdom cooperation between bacteria and mammalian cells wherein bacteria contribute to host NAD biosynthesis. Bacteria confer resistance to inhibitors of NAMPT, the rate-limiting enzyme in the amidated NAD salvage pathway, in cancer cells and xenograft tumors. Mechanistically, a microbial nicotinamidase (PncA) that converts nicotinamide to nicotinic acid, a precursor in the alternative deamidated NAD salvage pathway, is necessary and sufficient for this protective effect. Using stable isotope tracing and microbiota-depleted mice, we demonstrate that this bacteria-mediated deamidation contributes substantially to the NAD-boosting effect of oral nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside supplementation in several tissues. Collectively, our findings reveal an important role of bacteria-enabled deamidated pathway in host NAD metabolism.

Keywords: NAMPT inhibitors; cancer cells; deamidated NAD synthesis; germ-free mice; host-microbe interaction; microbial nicotinamidase; mycoplasma; nicotinic acid; oral nicotinamide riboside supplementation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Amides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biosynthetic Pathways*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mammals / microbiology*
  • Metabolome
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycoplasma / physiology*
  • NAD / metabolism*
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Niacinamide / metabolism
  • Nicotinamidase / metabolism
  • Nicotinamide Mononucleotide / administration & dosage
  • Nicotinamide Mononucleotide / chemistry
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / metabolism
  • Pyridinium Compounds / metabolism

Substances

  • Amides
  • Cytokines
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • nicotinamide-beta-riboside
  • NAD
  • Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
  • Niacinamide
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
  • nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human
  • Nicotinamidase