Recent insights into oceanic dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis and catabolism

Summary Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a globally important organosulfur compound is produced in prodigious amounts (2.0 Pg sulfur) annually in the marine environment by phytoplankton, macroalgae, heterotrophic bacteria, some corals and certain higher plants. It is an important marine osmolyte and a major precursor molecule for the production of climate‐active volatile gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS). DMSP synthesis take place via three pathways: a transamination ‘pathway‐’ in some marine bacteria and algae, a Met‐methylation ‘pathway‐’ in angiosperms and bacteria and a decarboxylation ‘pathway‐’ in the dinoflagellate, Crypthecodinium . The enzymes DSYB and TpMMT are involved in the DMSP biosynthesis in eukaryotes while marine heterotrophic bacteria engage key enzymes such as DsyB and MmtN. Several marine bacterial communities import DMSP and degrade it via cleavage or demethylation pathways or oxidation pathway, thereby generating DMS, methanethiol, and dimethylsulfoxonium propionate, respectively. DMSP is cleaved through diverse DMSP lyase enzymes in bacteria and via Alma1 enzyme in phytoplankton. The d