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Ocean Microbes Team Up to Digest Tough Algal Carbon Molecule

Ocean Microbes Team Up to Digest Tough Algal Carbon Molecule

Scientists report that marine bacteria cooperate to break down fucoidan, a complex carbohydrate produced by brown algae and diatoms. Because fucoidan has many varied chemical linkages and branching patterns, its degradation often requires multi-species microbial teamwork.

Original headline

Marine bacteria team up to break down one of the ocean's toughest carbon-storing molecules