Utilization of phosphate diesters by phosphodiesterase-producing marine diatoms

Abstract

Oceans contain a large reservoir of dissolved phosphorus in the form of phosphate diesters (PDEs). The present study investigated the production of phosphodiesterase (PDEase) and the utilization of PDEs by marine diatom cultures. Chaetoceros tenuissimus and Ditylum brightwellii, as well as the previously reported Chaetoceros cf. ceratosporus, produced phosphate-repressive PDEase. These diatoms utilized PDE compounds as their sole phosphorus source. Our results demonstrate the significant and diverse utilization of PDEs by marine planktonic diatoms.