Methylaminotrophic Bacteria in Xenic Nanoalgal Cultures: Incidence, Significance, and Role of Methylated Algal Osmoprotectants

Bacteria that oxidize methylated amines are ubiquitous in the sea. The likely source of these C1 substrates is the quaternary ammonium osmoprotectant, glycine betaine, which degrades to release trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylamine (DMA), and monomethylamine (MMA). Each of these compounds are successively oxidized to yield formaldehyde, formate, and CO2. The release of methylamines from nanoalgae was determined indirectly by the presence of...