ABSTRACT
The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is colonized by a large, active and highly diverse microbial community (Eckburg et al. 2005). From a nutritional viewpoint, intestinal bacteria can be divided into saccharolytic and proteolytic species, depending on whether they obtain energy by sugar fermentation (or oxidation), or by protein putrefaction. It is well established that the metabolic activity of proteolytic bacteria leads to biosynthesis and release of toxic and mutagenic molecules such as phenols, thiols, indole, amines and ammonia. Actually, it has been demonstrated that a
1 Enzyme and Protein Chemistry, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 224, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
