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Diatom fucan polysaccharide precipitates carbon during algal blooms.

Nature communications (2021-02-21)
Silvia Vidal-Melgosa, Andreas Sichert, T Ben Francis, Daniel Bartosik, Jutta Niggemann, Antje Wichels, William G T Willats, Bernhard M Fuchs, Hanno Teeling, Dörte Becher, Thomas Schweder, Rudolf Amann, Jan-Hendrik Hehemann
ABSTRACT

The formation of sinking particles in the ocean, which promote carbon sequestration into deeper water and sediments, involves algal polysaccharides acting as an adhesive, binding together molecules, cells and minerals. These as yet unidentified adhesive polysaccharides must resist degradation by bacterial enzymes or else they dissolve and particles disassemble before exporting carbon. Here, using monoclonal antibodies as analytical tools, we trace the abundance of 27 polysaccharide epitopes in dissolved and particulate organic matter during a series of diatom blooms in the North Sea, and discover a fucose-containing sulphated polysaccharide (FCSP) that resists enzymatic degradation, accumulates and aggregates. Previously only known as a macroalgal polysaccharide, we find FCSP to be secreted by several globally abundant diatom species including the genera Chaetoceros and Thalassiosira. These findings provide evidence for a novel polysaccharide candidate to contribute to carbon sequestration in the ocean.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-polyHistidine−Alkaline Phosphatase antibody, Mouse monoclonal, clone HIS-1, purified from hybridoma cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Rat IgG (whole molecule)–FITC antibody produced in rabbit, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Rat IgG (whole molecule)−Peroxidase antibody produced in goat, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Mouse IgG (whole molecule)−Alkaline Phosphatase antibody produced in goat, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous glycerol solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Rat IgG (whole molecule)–Alkaline Phosphatase antibody produced in goat, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous glycerol solution
CellCrown inserts, 6 well plate inserts with 1.0 μm polycarbonate filter, sterile
Millipore
Polycarbonate Membrane Filter, 0.22 μm Pore Size, Isopore, filter diam. 142 mm, hydrophilic