Impact/Purpose:

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is thought to play a key role in climate regulation, as its oxidation leads to the formation of cloud condensation nuclei in the atmosphere. Although DMS is produced by marine phytoplankton from dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), its role in the cell is poorly understood. This study aims to look at DMS and its potential as an antioxidant compound – one that prevents damage caused by free radicals in the cell. It will examine this role by testing cellular responses to chemical stress induced by atrazine. Atrazine is a triazine herbicide that is the second most commonly used herbicide in the United States, and as such has the potential to impact estuaries and the coastal zone, where most of the oceanic primary productivity occurs.

Description:

It is anticipated that under stress, the cellular DMSP concentration should drop, as sulfur is transferred from the DMSP pool to DMS. Sulfur in the DMS pool will be transferred to the DMSO pool as radicals are scavenged. Enzyme activities such as DMSP lyase, which converts DMSP to DMS, and DMSO reductase, which converts DMSO to DMS, should also increase. As stress increases and cellular lysis occurs, there will be a shift in the dissolved sulfur pools toward the more oxidized sulfur species such as DMSO, dimethyl sulfone, and methane sulfonic acid.

URLs/Downloads:

Final Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:09/01/2007

Completion Date:09/01/2010

Record ID: 184408

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENC

Mailing Address :750 East Adams Street

Citation :Syracuse

State :NY

Zip Code :13210

Project Information:

Approach :

This project will focus primarily on laboratory cultures of axenic marine algae. Three classes of marine algae will be tested: diatoms, prymnesiophytes, and dinoflagellates. Atrazine will be the primary focus, but other chemical stressors of environmental importance will be used, such as paraquat, and cupric ion (Cu2+). All of these compounds are known to cause oxidative stress in photosynthetic organisms. Laboratory studies will focus on changes to the cellular concentrations of DMS, DMSP, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Oxidative stress will be measured by quantifying both ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation.

Cost :$.00

Research Component :Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystems

Approach :

This project will focus primarily on laboratory cultures of axenic marine algae. Three classes of marine algae will be tested: diatoms, prymnesiophytes, and dinoflagellates. Atrazine will be the primary focus, but other chemical stressors of environmental importance will be used, such as paraquat, and cupric ion (Cu2+). All of these compounds are known to cause oxidative stress in photosynthetic organisms. Laboratory studies will focus on changes to the cellular concentrations of DMS, DMSP, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Oxidative stress will be measured by quantifying both ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation.

Cost :$.00

Research Component :Academic Fellowships

Approach :

This project will focus primarily on laboratory cultures of axenic marine algae. Three classes of marine algae will be tested: diatoms, prymnesiophytes, and dinoflagellates. Atrazine will be the primary focus, but other chemical stressors of environmental importance will be used, such as paraquat, and cupric ion (Cu2+). All of these compounds are known to cause oxidative stress in photosynthetic organisms. Laboratory studies will focus on changes to the cellular concentrations of DMS, DMSP, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Oxidative stress will be measured by quantifying both ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation.

Cost :$.00

Research Component :Fellowship - Oceanography and Coastal Processes

Project IDs:

ID Code :F07E71122

Project type :Fellowship