RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High-molecular-weight polymers from dietary fiber drive aggregation of particulates in the murine small intestine
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 490920
DO 10.1101/490920
A1 Asher Preska Steinberg
A1 Sujit S. Datta
A1 Thomas Naragon
A1 Justin C. Rolando
A1 Said R. Bogatyrev
A1 Rustem F. Ismagilov
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/12/10/490920.abstract
AB The lumen of the small intestine (SI) is filled with particulates: microbes, therapeutic particles, and food granules. The structure of this particulate suspension could impact uptake of drugs and nutrients and the function of microorganisms; however, little is understood about how this suspension is re-structured as it transits the gut. Here, we demonstrate that particles spontaneously aggregate in SI luminal fluid ex vivo. We find that mucins and immunoglobulins are not required for aggregation. Instead, aggregation can be controlled using polymers from dietary fiber in a manner that is qualitatively consistent with polymer-induced depletion interactions, which do not require specific chemical interactions. Furthermore, we find that aggregation is tunable; by feeding mice dietary fibers of different molecular weights, we can control aggregation in SI luminal fluid. This work suggests that the molecular weight and concentration of dietary polymers play an underappreciated role in shaping the physicochemical environment of the gut.