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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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    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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).
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    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. Kyong Ha Han & Hyun Jung Kim & Zhun Li & Joo Yeon Youn & Kyeong Yoon Kwak & Min Ho Seo & Jinik Hwang & Sang Deuk Lee & Suk Min Yun & Seok Jin Oh & Jong Woo Park & Weol-Ae Lim & Hyeon Ho Shin, 2020. "Effects of Different Nutrient and Trace Metal Concentrations on Growth of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum Isolated from Korean Coastal Waters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-12, June.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Susheel Bhanu Busi & Massimo Bourquin & Stilianos Fodelianakis & Grégoire Michoud & Tyler J. Kohler & Hannes Peter & Paraskevi Pramateftaki & Michail Styllas & Matteo Tolosano & Vincent Staercke & Mar, 2022. "Genomic and metabolic adaptations of biofilms to ecological windows of opportunity in glacier-fed streams," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. Tandon, Puja & Jin, Qiang, 2017. "Microalgae culture enhancement through key microbial approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1089-1099.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.

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