MIT Researchers Find Prochlorococcus Releases DNA Building Blocks into Ocean Water
MIT researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of Prochlorococcus, a type of ocean microbe. They found that Prochlorococcus releases DNA building blocks into the water, which are then shared with other ocean microbes. These compounds act as nutrients or help regulate metabolism in organisms like SAR11, the most abundant bacteria in the ocean. The study reveals that Prochlorococcus regularly releases these byproducts, particularly at night, benefiting surrounding microbes and highlighting a new aspect of the complex ocean ecosystem.
Source: https://www.inceptivemind.com/blurb/prochlorococcus-cross-feeding