Research Theme
Organosulfur Compounds
The diverse roles and importance of DMSP
DMSP is also a precursor for many other important DMSP-related compounds. For example, diverse marine organisms can oxidise DMSP to generate dimethylsulfoxonium propionate (DMSOP), which has roles as a nutrient, osmoprotectant and antioxidant.
We use cutting-edge environmental microbiology, molecular biology and robust process measurement to determine the diverse organisms producing and/or degrading DMSP and related compounds, how and why they do so, their regulatory mechanisms and environmental distribution and importance.
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is one of Earth’s most abundant organosulfur compounds, vital to global sulfur cycling and, potentially, in climate regulation. It is a major marine nutrient, antistress and signalling molecule and the precursor of the climate-active gases dimethylsulfide (DMS), methanethiol (MeSH) and methane.