Looking under the hood of the microbiome – functional insights through CAZyme analysis
Carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) are responsible for modification of all carbohydrates, through both anabolic and catabolic pathways. Composed of five major classes and over 300 families and subfamilies, CAZymes play a role in all carbohydrate biochemistry and are vital for the well-being of many organisms. Plant pathogens like the white-rot fungus Dichomitus squalens, for example, require a repertoire of CAZymes to invade plant cells by breaking down the cell wall¹. In humans, the gut microbiome utilizes CAZymes to breakdown complex carbohydrates into smaller components aiding […]
