Bryndan P. Durham

Abstract Homarine (N-methylpicolinic acid) is a ubiquitous marine metabolite produced by phytoplankton and noted for its infochemical properties among marine animals, yet its microbial degradation pathways are uncharacterized. Here we identify a conserved operon (homABCDER) that mediates homarine catabolism in bacteria using comparative transcriptomics, mutagenesis and targeted knockouts.

Abstract Marine microorganisms play crucial roles in Earth’s element cycles through the production and consumption of organic matter. One of the elements whose fate is governed by microbial activities is sulfur, an essential constituent of biomass and a crucial player in climate processes. With sulfur already being well studied in the ocean in its inorganic forms, organic sulfur compounds are emerging as important chemical links between marine phytoplankton and bacteria.