Intestinal tryptophan metabolism in disease prevention and swine production

Zhenguo Hu; Luya Feng; Qian Jiang; Wenliang Wang; Bi'e Tan; Xiongzhuo Tang; Yulong Yin

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2023.08.002

Intestinal tryptophan metabolism in disease prevention and swine production

Anim Nutr. 2023 Aug 19:15:364-374. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.08.002. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Zhenguo Hu¹, Luya Feng², Qian Jiang², Wenliang Wang², Bi'e Tan², Xiongzhuo Tang², Yulong Yin^{3

2

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Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Science, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China.
² Animal Nutritional Genome and Germplasm Innovation Research Center, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
³ Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China.

Abstract

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid that cannot be synthesized by animals. It has been characterized into two different isomers, levorotation-Trp (L-Trp) and dextrorotation-Trp (D-Trp), based on their distinct molecule orientation. Intestinal epithelial cells and gut microbiota are involved in metabolizing L-Trp in the gut via the activation of the kynurenine, serotonin, and indole pathways. However, knowledge regarding D-Trp metabolism in the gut remains unclear. In this review, we briefly update the current understanding of intestinal L/D-Trp metabolism and the function of their metabolites in modulating the gut physiology and diseases. Finally, we summarize the effects of Trp nutrition on swine production at different stages, including growth performance in weaned piglets and growing pigs, as well as the reproduction performance in sows.

Keywords: Diseases; Gut microbiota; Swine production; Tryptophan metabolism.

Publication types

Review