Study highlights that a globally abundant cyanobacterium, Synechococcus, can access a broad range of phosphorus compounds to grow and photosynthesize.

In a paper recently published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology, authors Emily M Waggoner, Kahina Djaoudi, Julia M Diaz, and Solange Duhamel explore how the common marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus, uses different types of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) compounds, which are crucial nutrients in ocean ecosystems. A cyanobacterium is a type of bacteria that can perform photosynthesis, similar to plants. They are sometimes called "blue-green algae," although they are not true algae. Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms on Earth and played a crucial role in shaping the planet's atmosphere by producing oxygen through photosynthesis billions of years ago.  

Researchers examined how Synechococcus strains from open and coastal oceans grow on and break down DOP compounds containing different chemical bonds. The study found that both strains could efficiently use compounds with phosphoanhydride bonds, such as those found in polyphosphates, while their ability to grow on phosphoesters was more variable. They were unable to utilize compounds with phosphorus–carbon bonds. The research also revealed that these cyanobacteria produce enzymes that actively break down phosphoanhydride bonds, especially when phosphate is scarce, highlighting the importance of these compounds in Synechococcus nutrition. These findings provide new insights into how these microorganisms contribute to the cycling of phosphorus in marine environments, which is vital for understanding marine ecosystem dynamics.