Polymers in the gut compress the colonic mucus hydrogel

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Abstract
Significance: Hydrogels are critical components of biological systems; however, how these structures are affected by polymers abundant in their environments (e.g., dietary fiber in the gut and soluble glycoproteins in tissues) remains unknown. Here we find that the colonic mucus hydrogel (a protective barrier and mediator of microbe–host interactions) is compressed by gut polymers. Surprisingly, the predictions of a simple thermodynamic model are able to describe our experiments on this complex biological system, providing insight into the underlying physics. Moreover, we find that gut microbes modulate mucus structure by degrading dietary polymers into smaller, noncompressing fragments. These findings reveal a mechanism of mucus restructuring and illustrate an unexpected interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and the biological structures that protect a host.
Funding Information
  • DOD | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (HR0011-15-C-0093)
  • NSF | BIO | Division of Emerging Frontiers (1137089)
  • NSF | EHR | Division of Graduate Education (1144469)

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