Virus-mediated total release of dimethylsulfoniopropionate from marine phytoplankton: A potential climate process

Abstract

Growing, axenic cultures of the eukaryotic marine microalga Micromonas pusilla (Prasinophyceae) were inoculated with 0.7 infectious particles cell-1 of the viral pathogen MPV (Micromonas pusilla virus). Starting 11 to 14 h after the inoculation, rapid release of intracellular dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) to the dissolved pool occurred along with cell lysis. DMSP release was total. Release facilitates bacterial degradation of DMSP to dimethylsulfide, a gas that affects cloud cover over the oceans. Viruses of eukaryotic marine phytoplankton may thus participate in the biological shaping of global climate.