Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter
Cyanate is a nitrogen and energy source for diverse marine microorganisms, playing important roles in the nitrogen cycle. Despite the extensive research on cyanate utilization, the sources of this nitrogen compound remain largely enigmatic. To unravel the sources of cyanate, distributions and produc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1373643/full |
| _version_ | 1797263087803301888 |
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| author | Rui Wang Rui Wang Jihua Liu Jihua Liu Yongle Xu Yongle Xu Li Liu Li Liu Kenneth Mopper |
| author_facet | Rui Wang Rui Wang Jihua Liu Jihua Liu Yongle Xu Yongle Xu Li Liu Li Liu Kenneth Mopper |
| author_sort | Rui Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cyanate is a nitrogen and energy source for diverse marine microorganisms, playing important roles in the nitrogen cycle. Despite the extensive research on cyanate utilization, the sources of this nitrogen compound remain largely enigmatic. To unravel the sources of cyanate, distributions and production of cyanate during photochemical degradation of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) were investigated across various environments, including freshwater, estuarine, coastal areas in Florida, and the continental and slope regions of the North American mid-Atlantic Ocean (NATL). Cyanate production was also examined during the photochemical degradation of exudates from a typical strain of Synechococcus, an important phytoplankton component. To deepen our understanding of the sources and production mechanisms of cyanate, its production was assessed during the photochemical degradation of a natural seawater DOM supplemented with five nitrogen–containing compounds with distinguishing structures and functional groups. Generally, cyanate exhibited higher concentrations in the Florida coastal, estuarine, and freshwater environments than the NATL. However, cyanate distribution did not consistently align with its production rates. Despite significantly low concentrations in the NATL, DOM from this region exhibited cyanate production rates comparable to estuarine and Florida coastal environments. Although relatively high cyanate concentrations were observed in the freshwaters, DOM in this environment exhibited very low cyanate production rates. A highly significant correlation was observed between cyanate and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations in these areas. Moreover, in most estuarine and NATL stations, cyanate concentration and production rate in the Chl a maximum layer were significantly higher than in other layers. Cyanate was produced during the photochemical degradation of the Synechococcus exudates. The cyanate production was significantly enhanced when the natural seawater DOM was supplemented with GlycylGlycine, 4-(methylamino) benzoic acid, 4-[ethyl(methyl)amino] benzaldehyde or methyl 2-aminobenzoate. Our study implies that photochemical degradation of marine DOM, especially phytoplankton-derived DOM, is a substantial source of cyanate in the ocean. Additionally, cyanate may form during the degradation of peptides and small aromatic compounds in DOM, providing novel insights into the nitrogen cycle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:07:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3fb9a6a13ef4a4f8d205c44e960eeba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:07:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3fb9a6a13ef4a4f8d205c44e960eeba2024-03-14T04:32:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452024-03-011110.3389/fmars.2024.13736431373643Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matterRui Wang0Rui Wang1Jihua Liu2Jihua Liu3Yongle Xu4Yongle Xu5Li Liu6Li Liu7Kenneth Mopper8Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaQingdao Key Laboratory of Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Negative Emission Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaInstitute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaQingdao Key Laboratory of Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Negative Emission Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaInstitute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaQingdao Key Laboratory of Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Negative Emission Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaInstitute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaQingdao Key Laboratory of Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Negative Emission Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesCyanate is a nitrogen and energy source for diverse marine microorganisms, playing important roles in the nitrogen cycle. Despite the extensive research on cyanate utilization, the sources of this nitrogen compound remain largely enigmatic. To unravel the sources of cyanate, distributions and production of cyanate during photochemical degradation of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) were investigated across various environments, including freshwater, estuarine, coastal areas in Florida, and the continental and slope regions of the North American mid-Atlantic Ocean (NATL). Cyanate production was also examined during the photochemical degradation of exudates from a typical strain of Synechococcus, an important phytoplankton component. To deepen our understanding of the sources and production mechanisms of cyanate, its production was assessed during the photochemical degradation of a natural seawater DOM supplemented with five nitrogen–containing compounds with distinguishing structures and functional groups. Generally, cyanate exhibited higher concentrations in the Florida coastal, estuarine, and freshwater environments than the NATL. However, cyanate distribution did not consistently align with its production rates. Despite significantly low concentrations in the NATL, DOM from this region exhibited cyanate production rates comparable to estuarine and Florida coastal environments. Although relatively high cyanate concentrations were observed in the freshwaters, DOM in this environment exhibited very low cyanate production rates. A highly significant correlation was observed between cyanate and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations in these areas. Moreover, in most estuarine and NATL stations, cyanate concentration and production rate in the Chl a maximum layer were significantly higher than in other layers. Cyanate was produced during the photochemical degradation of the Synechococcus exudates. The cyanate production was significantly enhanced when the natural seawater DOM was supplemented with GlycylGlycine, 4-(methylamino) benzoic acid, 4-[ethyl(methyl)amino] benzaldehyde or methyl 2-aminobenzoate. Our study implies that photochemical degradation of marine DOM, especially phytoplankton-derived DOM, is a substantial source of cyanate in the ocean. Additionally, cyanate may form during the degradation of peptides and small aromatic compounds in DOM, providing novel insights into the nitrogen cycle.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1373643/fullcyanatephotochemical degradation of dissolved organic matterSynechococcus sp. CB0110 exudatesnitrogen-containing compoundDOMmarine nitrogen cycle |
| spellingShingle | Rui Wang Rui Wang Jihua Liu Jihua Liu Yongle Xu Yongle Xu Li Liu Li Liu Kenneth Mopper Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter Frontiers in Marine Science cyanate photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter Synechococcus sp. CB0110 exudates nitrogen-containing compound DOM marine nitrogen cycle |
| title | Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| title_full | Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| title_short | Unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment: insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| title_sort | unraveling sources of cyanate in the marine environment insights from cyanate distributions and production during the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter |
| topic | cyanate photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter Synechococcus sp. CB0110 exudates nitrogen-containing compound DOM marine nitrogen cycle |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1373643/full |
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