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Microbiology

Algae and the vitamin mosaic

Nature volume 438, pages 33–35 (2005)Cite this article

The requirements for vitamin B12 vary among algal species in a seemingly inexplicable pattern. A study that exploits genomic data now provides enlightenment — and evidence of symbioses with bacteria.

Animals require vitamin B12 in their diets but plants don't. Algal requirements, on the other hand, present a complicated picture. Many algae must take up vitamin B12 (like animals) whereas many others do not (like plants)1, and there is no evolutionary pattern to these requirements. Even different isolates of the same species can have different demands2.

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  1. the Provasoli–Guillard National Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, 04575, Maine, USA

    Robert A. Andersen

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  1. Robert A. Andersen
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Andersen, R. Algae and the vitamin mosaic. Nature 438, 33–35 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/438033a

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