Synthesis of methylphosphonic acid by marine microbes: a source for methane in the aerobic ocean.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Metcalf WW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3466329 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Synthesis of methylphosphonic acid by marine microbes: a source for methane in the aerobic ocean.
Metcalf William W WW Griffin Benjamin M BM Cicchillo Robert M RM Gao Jiangtao J Janga Sarath Chandra SC Cooke Heather A HA Circello Benjamin T BT Evans Bradley S BS Martens-Habbena Willm W Stahl David A DA van der Donk Wilfred A WA
Science (New York, N.Y.) 20120801 6098
Relative to the atmosphere, much of the aerobic ocean is supersaturated with methane; however, the source of this important greenhouse gas remains enigmatic. Catabolism of methylphosphonic acid by phosphorus-starved marine microbes, with concomitant release of methane, has been suggested to explain this phenomenon, yet methylphosphonate is not a known natural product, nor has it been detected in natural systems. Further, its synthesis from known natural products would require unknown biochemistr ...[more]
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