Bacterial Taxa That Limit Sulfur Flux from the Ocean

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1130657
• Publication Date: 2006-10-26T21:11:36Z
• Authors: Erinn C. Howard; James R. Henriksen; Alison Buchan; Chris R. Reisch; Helmut Bürgmann; Rory Welsh; Wenying Ye; José M. González; Kimberly Mace; Samantha B. Joye; Ronald P. Kiene; William B. Whitman; Mary Ann Moran
• Keywords: Dimethylsulfoniopropionate; Bacterioplankton; Sulfur Cycle; Roseobacter; Marine bacteriophage

Flux of dimethylsulfide (DMS) from ocean surface waters is the predominant natural source sulfur to atmosphere and influences climate by aerosol formation. Marine bacterioplankton regulate flux converting precursor dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) either DMS or compounds that are not climatically active. Through discovery a glycine cleavage T-family protein with DMSP methyltransferase activity, marine in Roseobacter SAR11 taxa were identified as primary mediators demethylation methylmercaptopropionate. One-third bacteria harbor demethylase homolog thereby route substantial fraction global production away formation into microbial food web.