%0 Journal Article
%T Alternative dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis enzymes in diverse and abundant microorganisms.
%A Wang J
%A Curson ARJ
%A Zhou S
%A Carrión O
%A Liu J
%A Vieira AR
%A Walsham KS
%A Monaco S
%A Li CY
%A Dong QY
%A Wang Y
%A Rivera PPL
%A Wang XD
%A Zhang M
%A Hanwell L
%A Wallace M
%A Zhu XY
%A Leão PN
%A Lea-Smith DJ
%A Zhang YZ
%A Zhang XH
%A Todd JD
%J Nat Microbiol
%V 9
%N 8
%D 2024 Aug 11
%M 38862603
%F 30.964
%R 10.1038/s41564-024-01715-9
%X 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.