Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems

The intricate relationship between prokaryotic vitamin B12 (cobalamin) producers and metazoans in deep-sea ecosystems, particularly within ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic nodules, is critical for understanding oceanic biogeochemical cycling of cobalt. Microbial communities are key regulators...

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Main Authors: Lilia Montoya, Elva Escobar-Briones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1524057/full
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author Lilia Montoya
Elva Escobar-Briones
author_facet Lilia Montoya
Elva Escobar-Briones
author_sort Lilia Montoya
collection DOAJ
description The intricate relationship between prokaryotic vitamin B12 (cobalamin) producers and metazoans in deep-sea ecosystems, particularly within ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic nodules, is critical for understanding oceanic biogeochemical cycling of cobalt. Microbial communities are key regulators of essential biogeochemical cycles, with cobalt serving as a vital component in the synthesis of cobalamin, a metallocofactor indispensable for numerous metabolic processes. We analyzed the significance of cobalamin biosynthetic pathways confined to prokaryotes and emphasized the ecological importance of auxotrophic organisms that rely on exogenous sources of vitamin B12. Additionally, we recognize recent research regarding the spatial distribution of dissolved cobalt and its consequential effects on cobalamin production and bioavailability, indicating the scarcity of cobalt and cobalamin in marine environments. We propose that cobalt-rich environments may foster unique interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, potentially altering the food web dynamics owing to the localized abundance of this element. By investigating the roles of cobalt and cobalamin in nutrient cycling and interspecies interactions, we outlined key criteria for future research on deep-sea microbial communities and their contributions to the cobalt biogeochemical cycle.
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spelling doaj-art-822a7828689a4dbe9375a82fe97645b92025-08-20T02:24:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-04-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15240571524057Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystemsLilia Montoya0Elva Escobar-Briones1Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoThe intricate relationship between prokaryotic vitamin B12 (cobalamin) producers and metazoans in deep-sea ecosystems, particularly within ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic nodules, is critical for understanding oceanic biogeochemical cycling of cobalt. Microbial communities are key regulators of essential biogeochemical cycles, with cobalt serving as a vital component in the synthesis of cobalamin, a metallocofactor indispensable for numerous metabolic processes. We analyzed the significance of cobalamin biosynthetic pathways confined to prokaryotes and emphasized the ecological importance of auxotrophic organisms that rely on exogenous sources of vitamin B12. Additionally, we recognize recent research regarding the spatial distribution of dissolved cobalt and its consequential effects on cobalamin production and bioavailability, indicating the scarcity of cobalt and cobalamin in marine environments. We propose that cobalt-rich environments may foster unique interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, potentially altering the food web dynamics owing to the localized abundance of this element. By investigating the roles of cobalt and cobalamin in nutrient cycling and interspecies interactions, we outlined key criteria for future research on deep-sea microbial communities and their contributions to the cobalt biogeochemical cycle.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1524057/fullfood webmeiofaunaprokaryotesbiogeochemical cyclingauxotrophy
spellingShingle Lilia Montoya
Elva Escobar-Briones
Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
Frontiers in Microbiology
food web
meiofauna
prokaryotes
biogeochemical cycling
auxotrophy
title Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
title_full Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
title_fullStr Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
title_short Unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin B12 in deep-sea ecosystems
title_sort unveiling the significance of prokaryotic composition from ferromanganese crusts regarding the interlink between cobalt and vitamin b12 in deep sea ecosystems
topic food web
meiofauna
prokaryotes
biogeochemical cycling
auxotrophy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1524057/full
work_keys_str_mv AT liliamontoya unveilingthesignificanceofprokaryoticcompositionfromferromanganesecrustsregardingtheinterlinkbetweencobaltandvitaminb12indeepseaecosystems
AT elvaescobarbriones unveilingthesignificanceofprokaryoticcompositionfromferromanganesecrustsregardingtheinterlinkbetweencobaltandvitaminb12indeepseaecosystems