Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Microbes making climate gas dimethylsulfide in marine sediments
By Guo Z et al.·2026·and College of Marine Life Sciences, China·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Potential for microbial methanethiol-dependent dimethylsulfide production in different marine sediments.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how certain microbes in different types of ocean sediments produce a gas called dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is important for the environment. Researchers found that when they added a compound called methanethiol (MeSH) to the sediments, DMS was produced in all the samples they tested, including those from nearshore areas and deep-sea locations. They discovered a variety of microbes that might help in this process, including some that were previously unknown. The research highlights a new way that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can be converted into MeSH, which is a key step in producing DMS. Overall, the findings suggest that there are many different microbes involved in making DMS in marine sediments, and more research is needed to understand them better.
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) plays a pivotal role in sulfur cycling and climate regulation. This study investigates microbial DMS production via the methylation of hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) and methanethiol (MeSH) in nearshore, pelagic deep-sea, and cold-seep sediments using culture-dependent and -independent methods. DMS production is detected in all sediments with exogenous MeSH addition. High mdd abundance is found in pelagic deep-sea sediments (24.55%-26.73%) from the Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension region, as well as in the nearshore sediments (25.78%). Metagenomic analyses reveal previously unrecognized Mdd-encoding taxa, such as Polyangia, and eight Bacteroidota and Bacillota isolates may possess unknown Mdd enzymes. Importantly, a widespread alternative pathway that converts H<sub>2</sub>S to MeSH is identified, representing a significant source of MeSH. These findings reveal a prevalent and diverse microbial pathway for DMS production in marine sediments, underscoring the need for further investigation to discover Mdd<sup>+</sup> microbial contributors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41604303