In vitro reconstitution of bacterial DMSP biosynthesis

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is one of the most abundant sulfur metabolites in marine environments. Biosynthesis of DMSP and degradation to dimethylsulfide (DMS) are important links in the planetary sulfur cycle. In this report we provide the first complete description of a DMSP biosynthetic pathway by in vitro reconstitution of four enzymes from Streptomyces mobaraensis. Isolation of DMSP in S. mobaraensis grown at high salinity confirmed that this actinobacterium is indeed is a DMSP producing organism. This biosynthesis follows same route as previously described in angiosperm plants. Despite this chemical congruence, limited sequence similarity between plant and bacterial enzymes suggests that that the two biosynthetic activities emerged independently.

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