Linking DMSP cycling and growth in abundant and important marine bacteria

背景：地球海洋中每年由许多藻类和细菌产生数十亿吨渗透剂二甲基硫代碘酸盐(DMSP)。这些生物以毫米胞内浓度产生DMSP，以保护其免受不同的胁迫。当微生物释放到环境中时，微生物输入并分解DMSP，通过DMSP裂解酶产生气候降温气体和强大的信号分子二甲基硫化物(DMS)。耐人寻味的是，一些消耗能量生产DMSP的微生物也会裂解DMSP，但目前尚不清楚为什么或如何在分子、生理和环境水平上调节这些过程。这些都是该项目试图回答的关键问题。为了解决这些重要问题，该项目将研究Labrenzia，一种制造和裂解DMSP的模式红杆菌(在海洋环境中大量存在)。此外，我们有证据将DMSP循环与Labrenzia细胞生长和分裂的基本过程联系起来，这也将被研究，并可能对DMSP的功能有所启发。

Background: Billions of tonnes of osmolyte dimethysulfonioproprionate (DMSP) are produced annually in Earth's oceans by many algae and bacteria. These organisms produce DMSP at mM intracellular concentrations for protection against varied stresses. When released into the environment, microorganisms import and catabolise DMSP to generate the climate-cooling gas and potent signalling molecule dimethylsulfide (DMS) via DMSP lyase enzymes. Intriguingly, some microorganisms that expend energy to produce DMSP also lyse DMSP, but it is unclear why or how these processes are regulated at the molecular, physiological and environmental levels. These are the key questions this project seeks to answer. To address these important questions the project will study Labrenzia, a model Rhodobacterales (abundant in marine environments) that makes and lyses DMSP.Furthermore, we have evidence linking DMSP cycling to the fundamental process of cell growth and division in Labrenzia, which will also be investigated and may enlighten on the function of DMSP.