Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How two new enzymes help bacteria make dimethylsulfide gas
By Guo R et al.·2026·and College of Marine Life Sciences, China·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Two Novel S-methyltransferases Confer Dimethylsulfide Production in Actinomycetota.
Plain-English summary
This research focuses on certain bacteria that can help convert harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol into a safer gas called dimethylsulfide. The study identified two specific enzymes, MddM1 and MddM2, in a type of bacteria called Mycolicibacterium poriferae, which was found in the Mariana Trench. These enzymes help the bacteria detoxify the harmful gases and protect them from oxidative stress, which is damage caused by reactive molecules. Interestingly, these enzymes are found in over half of the Actinomycetota bacteria, suggesting they play an important role in the environment. Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of these bacteria in producing dimethylsulfide and contributing to the global sulfur cycle.
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S), methanethiol (MeSH), and dimethylsulfide (DMS) are abundant sulfur gases with crucial roles in global sulfur cycling, chemotaxis, and climate regulation. Microorganisms can S-methylate H<sub>2</sub>S and MeSH, which can be cytotoxic, to yield non-toxic DMS via MddA or MddH enzymes in largely terrestrial or marine environments, respectively. However, the potential of many important and abundant bacteria like Actinomycetota is underestimated due to unknown Mdd enzymes. Here, two novel S-adenosine-methionine-dependent H<sub>2</sub>S and MeSH S-methyltransferases, MddM1 and MddM2 are identified, in the DMS-producing actinomycete Mycolicibacterium poriferae (M. poriferae) ZYF656, isolated from the Mariana Trench. M. poriferae ZYF656 MddM1 and MddM2 likely detoxify H<sub>2</sub>S and MeSH and alleviate oxidative stress, since mddM1 and mddM2 transcription is induced by H<sub>2</sub>S, MeSH, and oxidative stress, and their expression in E. coli enhances H<sub>2</sub>S, MeSH, and oxidative stress tolerance. MddM1 and/or MddM2 are in >50% of actinomycetota, including the model Streptomyces species, S. venezuelae, but are also seen in some Chloroflexota, Acidobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. mddM1 is always more abundant than mddM2 in diverse environments and is prevalent in soils and marsh sediments. This study highlights the significance of H<sub>2</sub>S- and MeSH-dependent DMS production and, principally, of Actinomycetota in global DMS production and sulfur cycling.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41332318