Transporter characterisation reveals aminoethylphosphonate mineralisation as a key step in the marine phosphorus redox cycle

Andrew R. J. Murphy, David J. Scanlan, Yin Chen, Nathan B. P. Adams, William A. Cadman, Andrew Bottrill, Gary Bending, John P. Hammond, Andrew Hitchcock, Elizabeth M. H. Wellington and Ian D. E. A. Lidbury ()
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Andrew R. J. Murphy: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
David J. Scanlan: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
Yin Chen: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
Nathan B. P. Adams: University of Sheffield
William A. Cadman: University of Sheffield
Andrew Bottrill: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
Gary Bending: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
John P. Hammond: School of Agriculture, Policy, and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights
Andrew Hitchcock: University of Sheffield
Elizabeth M. H. Wellington: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road
Ian D. E. A. Lidbury: University of Sheffield

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The planktonic synthesis of reduced organophosphorus molecules, such as alkylphosphonates and aminophosphonates, represents one half of a vast global oceanic phosphorus redox cycle. Whilst alkylphosphonates tend to accumulate in recalcitrant dissolved organic matter, aminophosphonates do not. Here, we identify three bacterial 2-aminoethylphosphonate (2AEP) transporters, named AepXVW, AepP and AepSTU, whose synthesis is independent of phosphate concentrations (phosphate-insensitive). AepXVW is found in diverse marine heterotrophs and is ubiquitously distributed in mesopelagic and epipelagic waters. Unlike the archetypal phosphonate binding protein, PhnD, AepX has high affinity and high specificity for 2AEP (Stappia stellulata AepX Kd 23 ± 4 nM; methylphosphonate Kd 3.4 ± 0.3 mM). In the global ocean, aepX is heavily transcribed (~100-fold>phnD) independently of phosphate and nitrogen concentrations. Collectively, our data identifies a mechanism responsible for a major oxidation process in the marine phosphorus redox cycle and suggests 2AEP may be an important source of regenerated phosphate and ammonium, which are required for oceanic primary production.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24646-z

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