Titre du document / Document title

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethylsulfide in the marine flatworm Convoluta roscoffensis and its algal symbiont

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

VAN BERGEIJK S. A. ⁽¹⁾ ; STAL L. J. ⁽²⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ IBED/Laboratory for Microbiology, University of Amsterdam Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, PAYS-BAS
⁽²⁾ Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Coastal Ecology, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, PAYS-BAS

Résumé / Abstract

A distinct smell, of dimethylsulfide (DMS) was noted at the edge of the intertidal mudflat of Marennes-Oléron Bay, at the French Atlantic coast, where dense populations of the marine flatworm Convoluta roscoffensis Graff (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria) were present. DMS is the cleavage product of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). DMSP was shown to be present in high amounts in sediment containing the flatworm as well as in axenic cultures of the symbiotic alga Tetraselmis sp. that was isolated from the flatworm. In untreated sediment samples containing C. roscoffensis the concentration of DMS was as high as ∼55 μmol l^-1 sediment, and in samples that were fixed with glutaraldehyde the concentration of DMS was even three orders of magnitude higher (∼66 mmol l^-1 sediment). This rapid cleavage of DMSP to DMS in fixed samples was unexpected. Pure DMSP was stable in glutaraldehyde, and it was therefore concluded that a DMSP-lyase was responsible for cleavage in the field samples. The isolated symbiotic alga, Tetraselmis sp., did not show DMSP-lyase activity. indicating that DMSP-lyase may have been present in the flatworm, although the role of bacteria could not be excluded. The Chl a-specific DMSP content of C. roscoffensis (∼200 mmol g^-1) was much higher than that of Tetraselmis sp. (∼30 mmol g^-1). Possibly, DMSP was not only present in the symbiotic alga, but was also incorporated in the body tissue of the flatworm, It remains unclear what the function of DMSP is in C. roscoffensis. In Tetraselmis sp., but not in C. roscoffensis, DMSP increased with increasing salinity. It was concluded that salinity probably does not play an important role in the dynamics of DMSP and DMS in sediment containing C. roscoffensis.

Revue / Journal Title

Marine biology   ISSN 0025-3162   CODEN MBIOAJ 

Source / Source

2001, vol. 138, n^o1, pp. 209-216 (1 p.1/4)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Springer, Berlin, ALLEMAGNE  (1967) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Salinity ; Biosynthesis ; Volatile organic compound ; Sulfur compounds ; Degradation product ; Enzymatic activity ; Lyases ; Symbionte ; Benthic organism ; Sediments ; Availability ; Nitrogen ; Temperature ; Bay ; Charente-Maritime ; North Atlantic ; Enzyme ; Poitou Charentes ; France ; Europe ; Atlantic Ocean ; Marine environment ; Symbiosis ; Animal plant relation ; Environmental factor ; Turbellaria ; Plathelmintha ; Helmintha ; Invertebrata ; Prasinophyceae ; Chlorophyta ; Algae ; Thallophyta ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Salinité ; Biosynthèse ; Composé organique volatil ; Soufre composé ; Produit dégradation ; Activité enzymatique ; Lyases ; Symbionte ; Organisme benthique ; Sédiment ; Disponibilité ; Azote ; Température ; Baie ; Charente Maritime ; Océan Atlantique Nord ; Convoluta roscoffensis ; Tetraselmis ; Diméthylsulfure ; Diméthylsulfoniopropionate ; Enzyme ; Poitou Charentes ; France ; Europe ; Océan Atlantique ; Milieu marin ; Symbiose ; Relation animal végétal ; Facteur milieu ; Turbellaria ; Plathelmintha ; Helmintha ; Invertebrata ; Prasinophyceae ; Chlorophyta ; Algae ; Thallophyta ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Salinidad ; Biosíntesis ; Compuesto orgánico volátil ; Azufre compuesto ; Producto degradación ; Actividad enzimática ; Lyases ; Simbionte ; Organismo bénthico ; Sedimento ; Disponibilidad ; Nitrógeno ; Temperatura ; Bahía ; Charente Maritime ; Océano Atlántico Norte ; Enzima ; Poitou Charentes ; Francia ; Europa ; Océano Atlántico ; Medio marino ; Simbiosis ; Relación animal vegetal ; Factor medio ; Turbellaria ; Plathelmintha ; Helmintha ; Invertebrata ; Prasinophyceae ; Chlorophyta ; Algae ; Thallophyta ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 8506, 35400009485781.0210