Linking DMSP cycling and growth in abundant and important marine bacteria

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.