Transporter characterisation reveals aminoethylphosphonate mineralisation as a key step in the marine phosphorus redox cycle

Murphy, A. R. J., Scanlan, D. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3093-4245, Chen, Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0367-4276, Adams, N. B. P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3080-3448, Cadman, W. A., Bottrill, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5182-3643, Bending, G., Hammond, J. P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6241-3551, Hitchcock, A., Wellington, E. M. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4329-0699 and Lidbury, I. D. E. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7190-315X (2021) Transporter characterisation reveals aminoethylphosphonate mineralisation as a key step in the marine phosphorus redox cycle. Nature Communications, 12 (1). 4554. ISSN 2041-1723 doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24646-z

Abstract/Summary

The planktonic synthesis of reduced organophosphorus molecules, such as alkylphosphonates and aminophosphonates, represents one half of a vast global oceanic phosphorus redox cycle. Whilst alkylphosphonates tend to accumulate in recalcitrant dissolved organic matter, aminophosphonates do not. Here, we identify three bacterial 2-aminoethylphosphonate (2AEP) transporters, named AepXVW, AepP and AepSTU, whose synthesis is independent of phosphate concentrations (phosphate-insensitive). AepXVW is found in diverse marine heterotrophs and is ubiquitously distributed in mesopelagic and epipelagic waters. Unlike the archetypal phosphonate binding protein, PhnD, AepX has high affinity and high specificity for 2AEP (Stappia stellulata AepX Kd 23 ± 4 nM; methylphosphonate Kd 3.4 ± 0.3 mM). In the global ocean, aepX is heavily transcribed (~100-fold>phnD) independently of phosphate and nitrogen concentrations. Collectively, our data identifies a mechanism responsible for a major oxidation process in the marine phosphorus redox cycle and suggests 2AEP may be an important source of regenerated phosphate and ammonium, which are required for oceanic primary production.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/99594
Identification Number/DOI	10.1038/s41467-021-24646-z
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Crop Science
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
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