Isolation and Characterization of Oxalate Decarboxylase From Human Intestine Bacteria

Abstract

Allison et al reported the presence of an oxalate degrading microorganism, Oxalobacter formigenes, in the human colon1. They suggested that this microorganism decomposes oxalate in intestine and consequently decreases the amount of oxalate available for absorption. In order to study the degradation and absorption of oxalate in the intestine of human subjects, we isolated the oxalate decarboxylase from anaerobic bacteria obtained from human feces, and examined the biochemical properties of this enzyme.