John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford researchers have uncovered a genetic anomaly in a type of microbe that could significantly impact ocean carbon storage. These microbes, known as cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, possess two distinct forms of an enzyme typically found separately in organisms.
Anne Dekas, assistant professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and senior author of the study published on November 25 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, stated, “This is one of those great examples of science where you go out looking for one thing, but you end up finding something else that’s even better.”
Cyanobacteria have played a crucial role in Earth's history by inventing oxygenic photosynthesis billions of years ago. This process allowed them to produce food from carbon dioxide and sunlight while releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. “Cyanobacteria are arguably the most important life form on Earth,” Dekas noted.
The research team used DNA analysis from ocean water samples to discover that some cyanobacteria have genes for both common form I RuBisCo and less common form II RuBisCo enzymes. Lead author Alex Jaffe was initially skeptical about his findings but later confirmed their accuracy. He explained, “By having two versions, it might allow you to remove more carbon dioxide from the water than if you only had one of them, or potentially to do it a little bit more efficiently.”
These findings may help scientists understand how climate change affects ocean carbon sequestration as low-oxygen zones expand. The dual presence of RuBisCo forms suggests these cyanobacteria might be more efficient at storing carbon than previously thought.
Furthermore, this discovery could enhance crop production by engineering crops with more efficient photosynthesis processes. Jaffe mentioned collaborating with plant engineers to explore potential applications: “We’re looking forward to continuing to think about this with people who work on the plant engineering side to see whether it might yield some fruit, literally and metaphorically.”
The study was supported by various institutions including Stanford University and funded by programs such as the Stanford Science Fellows program and the National Science Foundation.
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