Mutualistic interactions between vitamin B 12 ‐dependent algae and heterotrophic bacteria exhibit regulation
Abstract
Many algae are auxotrophs for vitamin B(12) (cobalamin), which they need as a cofactor for B(12) -dependent methionine synthase (METH). Because only prokaryotes can synthesize the cobalamin, they must be the ultimate source of the vitamin. In the laboratory, a direct interaction between algae and heterotrophic bacteria has been shown, with bacteria supplying cobalamin in exchange for fixed carbon. Here we establish a system to study this interaction at the molecular level. In a culture of a B(12) -dependent green alga Chlamydomonas nivalis, we found a contaminating bacterium, identified by 16S rRNA analysis as Mesorhizobium sp. Using the sequenced strain of M. loti (MAFF303099), we found that it was able to support the growth of B(12) -dependent Lobomonas rostrata, another green alga, in return for fixed carbon. The two organisms form a stable equilibrium in terms of population numbers, which is maintained over many generations in semi-continuous culture, indicating a degree of regulation. However, addition of either vitamin B(12) or a carbon source for the bacteria perturbs the equilibrium, demonstrating that the symbiosis is mutualistic and facultative. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii does not require B(12) for growth because it encodes a B(12) -independent methionine synthase, METE, the gene for which is suppressed by addition of exogenous B(12) . Co-culturing C. reinhardtii with M. loti also results in reduction of METE expression, demonstrating that the bacterium can deliver the vitamin to this B(12) -independent alga. We discuss the implications of this for the widespread distribution of cobalamin auxotrophy in the algal kingdom.
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M. loti supplies vitamin B12 to L. rostrata, and in return receives fixed carbon from the microalga.
“A model interaction for the exchange of vitamin B12 is the one created between the soil rhizobiaceae Mesorhizobium loti and the freshwater green microalga Lobomonas rostrata, where M. loti supplies vitamin B12, and in return, the bacterium receives fixed carbon from the microalga [45,46,47].”
From Toward the Enhancement of Microalgal Metabolite Production through Microalgae–Bacteria Consortia (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Kazamia, E., Czesnick, H., Nguyen, T. T. V., Croft, M. T., Sherwood, E., Sasso, S., Hodson, S. J., Warren, M. J., & Smith, A. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Alison Gail
- ORCID
- Venue
- Environmental Microbiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-03-29
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1466-1476
- ISSN
- 1462-2912 (ISSN-L)
- 1462-2920
- OpenAlex
- W2107778330
- Cited by
- 410
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I013164/1, BB/E024203/1)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Porphyrin Metabolism and Disorders
- Keywords
- vitamin B12, methionine synthase, Chlamydomonas nivalis, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Mesorhizobium loti, facultative symbiosis, population equilibrium
- MeSH terms
- Chlorophyta, Bacteria, Soil Microbiology, Symbiosis, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase, Vitamin B 12, Heterotrophic Processes
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