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Algae acquire vitamin B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria

Author

Listed:
  • Martin T. Croft

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Andrew D. Lawrence

    (University of Kent)

  • Evelyne Raux-Deery

    (University of Kent)

  • Martin J. Warren

    (University of Kent)

  • Alison G. Smith

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

To make B or not to make B... Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is one of nature's most complex metabolites. It is an essential human nutrient, and because it is not found in plants, strict vegetarians may suffer from deficiencies. Algae, including many seaweeds, are often rich in this vitamin and thus offer a good dietary source. However, until now the role of this cofactor in algal metabolism was unknown, as was the source of the vitamin for these organisms. A survey of the vitamin B12 requirements of more than 300 microalgal species has produced a startling result. Just under half of the algae have no requirement for the vitamin, and so are just like plants. But the rest of these supposedly autotrophic organisms require an external supply of the vitamin: they cannot make it themselves, rather it comes from tightly associated symbiotic bacteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin T. Croft & Andrew D. Lawrence & Evelyne Raux-Deery & Martin J. Warren & Alison G. Smith, 2005. "Algae acquire vitamin B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7064), pages 90-93, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:438:y:2005:i:7064:d:10.1038_nature04056
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04056
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    2. Taelman, Sue Ellen & De Meester, Steven & Van Dijk, Wim & da Silva, Vamilson & Dewulf, Jo, 2015. "Environmental sustainability analysis of a protein-rich livestock feed ingredient in The Netherlands: Microalgae production versus soybean import," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 61-72.
    3. Jon Jerlström-Hultqvist & Lucie Gallot-Lavallée & Dayana E. Salas-Leiva & Bruce A. Curtis & Kristína Záhonová & Ivan Čepička & Courtney W. Stairs & Shweta Pipaliya & Joel B. Dacks & John M. Archibald , 2024. "A unique symbiosome in an anaerobic single-celled eukaryote," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Chengyao Xia & Yuqiang Zhao & Lei Zhang & Xu Li & Yang Cheng & Dongming Wang & Changsheng Xu & Mengyi Qi & Jihong Wang & Xiangrui Guo & Xianfeng Ye & Yan Huang & Danyu Shen & Daolong Dou & Hui Cao & Z, 2023. "Myxobacteria restrain Phytophthora invasion by scavenging thiamine in soybean rhizosphere via outer membrane vesicle-secreted thiaminase I," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
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    6. Kapil Amarnath & Avaneesh V. Narla & Sammy Pontrelli & Jiajia Dong & Jack Reddan & Brian R. Taylor & Tolga Caglar & Julia Schwartzman & Uwe Sauer & Otto X. Cordero & Terence Hwa, 2023. "Stress-induced metabolic exchanges between complementary bacterial types underly a dynamic mechanism of inter-species stress resistance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, December.
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    8. Xavier Mayali & Ty J. Samo & Jeff A. Kimbrel & Megan M. Morris & Kristina Rolison & Courtney Swink & Christina Ramon & Young-Mo Kim & Nathalie Munoz-Munoz & Carrie Nicora & Sam Purvine & Mary Lipton &, 2023. "Single-cell isotope tracing reveals functional guilds of bacteria associated with the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Frigon, Jean-Claude & Matteau-Lebrun, Frédérique & Hamani Abdou, Rekia & McGinn, Patrick J. & O’Leary, Stephen J.B. & Guiot, Serge R., 2013. "Screening microalgae strains for their productivity in methane following anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 100-107.
    10. Corentin Hochart & Lucas Paoli & Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh & Guillem Salazar & Emilie Boissin & Sarah Romac & Julie Poulain & Guillaume Bourdin & Guillaume Iwankow & Clémentine Moulin & Maren Ziegler & , 2023. "Ecology of Endozoicomonadaceae in three coral genera across the Pacific Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Robab Salami & Masoumeh Kordi & Parisa Bolouri & Nasser Delangiz & Behnam Asgari Lajayer, 2021. "Algae-Based Biorefinery as a Sustainable Renewable Resource," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(4), pages 1349-1365, December.
    12. Yuxiang Zhao & Zishu Liu & Baofeng Zhang & Jingjie Cai & Xiangwu Yao & Meng Zhang & Ye Deng & Baolan Hu, 2023. "Inter-bacterial mutualism promoted by public goods in a system characterized by deterministic temperature variation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Tawfik, Ahmed & Niaz, Haider & Qadeer, Kinza & Qyyum, Muhammad Abdul & Liu, J. Jay & Lee, Moonyong, 2022. "Valorization of algal cells for biomass and bioenergy production from wastewater: Sustainable strategies, challenges, and techno-economic limitations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    14. Kittipat Chotchindakun & Songphon Buddhasiri & Panwong Kuntanawat, 2024. "Enhanced Growth and Productivity of Arthrospira platensis H53 in a Nature-like Alkalophilic Environment and Its Implementation in Sustainable Arthrospira Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Zhang, Tian-Yuan & Hu, Hong-Ying & Wu, Yin-Hu & Zhuang, Lin-Lan & Xu, Xue-Qiao & Wang, Xiao-Xiong & Dao, Guo-Hua, 2016. "Promising solutions to solve the bottlenecks in the large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biomass/bioenergy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1602-1614.
    16. Yunyan Deng & Kui Wang & Zhangxi Hu & Ying-Zhong Tang, 2022. "Abundant Species Diversity and Essential Functions of Bacterial Communities Associated with Dinoflagellates as Revealed from Metabarcoding Sequencing for Laboratory-Raised Clonal Cultures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-19, April.
    17. Hannah Laeverenz Schlogelhofer & François J Peaudecerf & Freddy Bunbury & Martin J Whitehouse & Rachel A Foster & Alison G Smith & Ottavio A Croze, 2021. "Combining SIMS and mechanistic modelling to reveal nutrient kinetics in an algal-bacterial mutualism," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-27, May.
    18. Tandon, Puja & Jin, Qiang, 2017. "Microalgae culture enhancement through key microbial approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1089-1099.
    19. Shousong Zhu & Lauren Higa & Antonia Barela & Caitlyn Lee & Yinhua Chen & Zhi-Yan Du, 2023. "Microalgal Consortia for Waste Treatment and Valuable Bioproducts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-23, January.

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