What is the Origin of Microbial Deconjugation?

The term originates from the intersection of microbiology and human physiology, specifically the study of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and steroid hormones. Scientists recognized that conjugated metabolites, which were initially intended for fecal excretion, were being reactivated by the metabolic activity of the gut flora. This understanding has become increasingly relevant in hormonal health, as it links the composition of the gut microbiome to the effective circulating levels of hormones like estrogen.

What is the Mechanism of Microbial Deconjugation?

After steroid hormones are chemically conjugated in the liver to make them water-soluble for excretion via bile, they travel to the intestine. Specific gut microbes produce deconjugating enzymes that hydrolyze the chemical bond, releasing the free, active hormone molecule. This re-released hormone can then be passively reabsorbed through the intestinal wall back into the bloodstream, thereby increasing the effective half-life and circulating concentration of the active hormone, potentially contributing to conditions like estrogen dominance.

Microbial Deconjugation

Meaning

Microbial Deconjugation is a specific metabolic process performed by certain commensal gut bacteria, primarily involving the enzymatic cleavage of a sulfate or glucuronide molecule from a hormone or other compound that was previously inactivated in the liver. This enzymatic reaction, often catalyzed by beta-glucuronidase, effectively “un-tags” the hormone, restoring it to its biologically active, unconjugated form, which can then be reabsorbed into the circulation. This process is a critical and variable point of the enterohepatic circulation, directly impacting systemic hormone levels.