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Alternative dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis enzymes in diverse and abundant microorganisms.

Jinyan WangAndrew R J CursonShun ZhouOrnella CarriónJi LiuAna R VieiraKeanu S WalshamSerena MonacoChun-Yang LiQing-Yu DongYu WangPeter Paolo L RiveraXiao-Di WangMin ZhangLibby HanwellMatthew WallaceXiao-Yu ZhuPedro N LeãoDavid J Lea-SmithYu-Zhong ZhangXiao-Hua ZhangJonathan D Todd
Published in: Nature microbiology (2024)
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is an abundant marine organosulfur compound with roles in stress protection, chemotaxis, nutrient and sulfur cycling and climate regulation. Here we report the discovery of a bifunctional DMSP biosynthesis enzyme, DsyGD, in the transamination pathway of the rhizobacterium Gynuella sunshinyii and some filamentous cyanobacteria not previously known to produce DMSP. DsyGD produces DMSP through its N-terminal DsyG methylthiohydroxybutyrate S-methyltransferase and C-terminal DsyD dimethylsulfoniohydroxybutyrate decarboxylase domains. Phylogenetically distinct DsyG-like proteins, termed DSYE, with methylthiohydroxybutyrate S-methyltransferase activity were found in diverse and environmentally abundant algae, comprising a mix of low, high and previously unknown DMSP producers. Algae containing DSYE, particularly bloom-forming Pelagophyceae species, were globally more abundant DMSP producers than those with previously described DMSP synthesis genes. This work greatly increases the number and diversity of predicted DMSP-producing organisms and highlights the importance of Pelagophyceae and other DSYE-containing algae in global DMSP production and sulfur cycling.
Keyphrases
  • small molecule
  • high intensity
  • climate change
  • gene expression
  • high throughput
  • heat stress
  • highly efficient