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The roles of B vitamins in phytoplankton nutrition: new perspectives and prospects
Author(s) -
Helliwell Katherine E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.14669
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , auxotrophy , biology , vitamin , b vitamins , ecology , botany , biochemistry , nutrient , gene , mutant , endocrinology
Summary B vitamins play essential roles in central metabolism. These organic water‐soluble molecules act as, or as part of, coenzymes within the cell. Unlike land plants, many eukaryotic algae are auxotrophic for certain B vitamins. Recent progress in algal genetic resources and environmental chemistry have promoted a renewal of interest in the role of vitamins in governing phytoplankton dynamics, and illuminated amazing versatility in phytoplankton vitamin metabolism. Accumulating evidence demonstrates metabolic complexity in the production and bioavailability of different vitamin forms, coupled with specialized acquisition strategies to salvage and remodel vitamin precursors. Here, I describe recent advances and discuss how they redefine our view of the way in which vitamins are cycled in aquatic ecosystems and their importance in structuring phytoplankton communities.ContentsSummary 62 I. Introduction 62 II. Comparative genomics: filling in the blanks 63 III. The emergence of vitamin auxotrophy 63 IV. Beyond the genome: metabolic complexity in algal vitamin acquisition strategies 66 V. Rethinking vitamin cycling in phytoplankton communities 66 VI. Conclusions 67Acknowledgements 67References 67