Organosulphur cycling in the multipartner lucinid symbiosis
This study emphasizes the important role of lucinid clams in the cycling of organosulfur compounds, particularly dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is likely produced by the clams themselves. Our findings demonstrate that the microbiome, including a newly isolated symbiont Ca. Endozoicomonas endolucinida, plays a vital role in the transformation and cycling of DMSP and related organosulfur compounds. Understanding the interactions between the clams and their microbiome not only enhances our knowledge of lucinid ecology but also underscores the potential environmental implications of these relationships for marine sulfur dynamics and the production of climate-active compounds. Sequencing was performed at the Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna under the project ID JMF-2209-07.