科技科学

Marine bacteria cooperate to break down complex algal carbohydrates

Nature正文已收录本站
  • RESEARCH BRIEFINGS

Marine algae produce sulfated carbohydrates called fucoidans that are chemically too complex for any bacteria to digest alone. Instead, marine bacteria split the task between them in a modular fashion: some strains degrade the molecular backbone, whereas others remove the side branches.

This is a summary of: Sichert, A. et al. Synergistic degradation of fucoidans in the ocean. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10980-z (2026).

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02873-y

‘Expert opinion’ and the figure are published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

References

  1. Vidal-Melgosa, S. et al. Nature Commun. 12, 1150 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hellige, I. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.10.737761 (2026).

  3. Sichert, A. et al. Nature Microbiol. 5, 1026–1039 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pérez-Cruz, C. et al. Nature Commun. 15, 10906 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vincent, F. et al. Nature Commun. 14, 510 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

  • Read the paper: Synergistic degradation of fucoidans in the ocean

  • Artificial algal blooms could remove atmospheric carbon — but can they be used responsibly?

  • Corals have algal friends for dinner

Subjects

Latest on:

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology
  • Ocean sciences

  • Mutational constraints on RSV F and its neutralization by antibodies

    Article

  • These bizarre, much-coveted microbes are revealing the origins of complex life

    News Feature

  • Assessing biological degradation of non-hydrolysable synthetic polymers

    Perspective

  • How is climate change affecting conifers and their ability to sequester carbon?

    News & Views

  • The pet trade puts reptiles and amphibians at risk: close legal gaps now

    Comment

  • The super El Niño is already wreaking havoc: here’s what’s in store

    News

  • The nutritional value of invertebrate aquatic foods

    Article

  • Why are El Niños getting stronger? 1,000-year-coral record points to climate change

    News

  • Ocean temperatures set to break all-time record: what’s next?

    News