Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 27 October 2006:
Vol. 314. no. 5799, p. 561
DOI: 10.1126/science.314.5799.561k
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

This Week in Science

Marine plankton produce huge amounts of dimethylsulfoniopropionate, which acts as a defensive chemical and osmolyte. One major breakdown product is the gas dimethylsulfide, which contributes to atmospheric aerosol formation at levels that could influence climate. Increasing evidence shows that heterotrophic bacteria in the plankton play an important role in regulating the partitioning of sulfur compounds between the atmosphere and the ocean (see the Perspective by Malin). Howard et al. (p. 649) have surveyed metagenome collections for genes involved in demethylation. In the open ocean, the Pelagibacter are the most important demethylators, but in coastal waters, Roseobacter take over this role. Vila-Costa et al. (p. 652) show that eukaryotic diatoms and cyanobacteria also act to retain dimethylsulfoniopropionate within plankton food webs. This activity is light-stimulated, seasonal, and appears to involve a sulfur-compound transport mechanism.




To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)