Publication Date:
2016-10-31
Description:
The oceanic N2-fixing cyanobacteriumTrichodesmiumspp. form extensive surface blooms and contribute significantly to marine carbon and nitrogen cycles in the oligotrophic subtropical and tropical oceans.Trichodesmiumgrows in salinities from 27 to 43 parts per thousand (ppt), yet its salt acclimation strategy remains enigmatic because the genome ofTrichodesmium erythraeumstrain IMS101 lacks all genes for the biosynthesis of any known compatible solute. Using NMR and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy, we identified the main compatible solute inT. erythraeumstrain IMS101 as the quaternary ammonium compoundN,N,N-trimethyl homoserine (or homoserine betaine) and elucidated its biosynthetic pathway. The identification of this compatible solute explains howTrichodesmiumspp. can thrive in the marine system at varying salinities and provides further insight into the diversity of microbial salt acclimation.
Print ISSN:
0027-8424
Electronic ISSN:
1091-6490
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General