Transformations of dimethylsulfide.

Abstract

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) is a naturally occurring chemical that is part of the biogeochemical sulfur cycle and has been implicated in climate-relevant atmospheric processes. In addition, DMS occurs in soil environments as well as in food stuff as a flavor compound and it can also be associated with disease states such as halitosis. A major environmental source of DMS is the marine algal osmoprotectant dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). A variety of bacterial enzyme systems lead either to the production of DMS from DMSP or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or its oxidation to, e.g., DMSO. The interconversion of DMS and DMSO is catalyzed by molybdenum-containing metalloenzymes that have been very well studied, and recently another enzyme system, an NADH-dependent, flavin-containing monooxygenase, that produces formaldehyde and methanethiol from DMS has also been described.DMS conversions are not limited to a specialized group of bacteria - evidence for DMS-based metabolism exists for heterotrophic, autotrophic and phototrophic bacteria and there is also evidence for the occurrence of this type of sulfur compound conversion in Archaea.