MIT researchers have discovered a new ocean-regulating role of Prochlorococcus: they release DNA building blocks into the water, which are then “cross-fed” to other ocean microbes. These compounds serve as nutrients or help regulate metabolism in organisms like SAR11, the ocean’s most abundant bacteria. Prochlorococcus regularly releases these byproducts, particularly at night, benefiting surrounding microbes.
Prochlorococcus’ cross-feeding at night affects the ocean’s carbon cycle
It feeds a global network of marine microbes.
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