In:
The ISME Journal, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 17, No. 11 ( 2023-11-01), p. 1979-1992
Abstract:
Algae and bacteria have complex and intimate interactions in the ocean. Besides mutualism, bacteria have evolved a variety of molecular-based anti-algal strategies. However, limited by the unknown mechanism of synthesis and action of these molecules, these strategies and their global prevalence remain unknown. Here we identify a novel strategy through which a marine representative of the Gammaproteobacteria produced 3,3’,5,5’-tetrabromo-2,2’-biphenyldiol (4-BP), that kills or inhibits diverse phytoplankton by inhibiting plastoquinone synthesis and its effect cascades to many other key metabolic processes of the algae. Through comparative genomic analysis between the 4-BP-producing bacterium and its algicidally inactive mutant, combined with gene function verification, we identified the gene cluster responsible for 4-BP synthesis, which contains genes encoding chorismate lyase, flavin-dependent halogenase and cytochrome P450. We demonstrated that in near in situ simulated algal blooming seawater, even low concentrations of 4-BP can cause changes in overall phytoplankton community structure with a decline in dinoflagellates and diatoms. Further analyses of the gene sequences from the Tara Oceans expeditions and 2750 whole genome sequences confirmed the ubiquitous presence of 4-BP synthetic genes in diverse bacterial members in the global ocean, suggesting that it is a bacterial tool potentially widely used in global oceans to mediate bacteria-algae antagonistic relationships.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1751-7362
,
1751-7370
DOI:
10.1038/s41396-023-01510-0
Language:
English
Publisher:
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2299378-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2406536-5
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