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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
10:43
Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Published on: November 5, 2014
26.4K
Ribonucleotide reductases recapitulate biogeographic patterns within virioplankton according to ocean biogeochemistry
Amelia O Harrison1,2, Ryan M Moore1,2, Barbra D Ferrell3,2
1Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Dept. Computer & Information Sciences, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|February 23, 2026
Summary
Marine viruses play a key role in nutrient cycling. This study reveals that many viruses encode ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) enzymes, influencing DNA synthesis and viral populations globally.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbiology
- Viral ecology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Lytic marine viruses are crucial for nutrient cycling and host control.
- Viral genome replication is vital for viral fitness.
- Deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) are essential for DNA synthesis, with ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) being the key enzyme.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and diversity of RNR-encoding virioplankton in the global ocean.
- To understand the functional implications of viral RNR genes in marine ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Metagenomic analysis of virioplankton communities.
- Phylogenetic analysis of RNR genes.
- Correlation of RNR distribution with environmental factors.
Main Results:
- RNR-encoding virioplankton are globally distributed, mirroring total virioplankton patterns.
- Class II monomeric RNR (NrdJm) was the most common type (∼66%), utilizing triphosphate ribonucleotides.
- Class I RNR distribution correlated with iron and manganese co-factor availability.
- High diversity of viral RNRs was observed, including novel phylogenetic clades.
- RNR-encoding viral populations (∼10% of total) showed fidelity with oceanic biogeographical features.
Conclusions:
- Viral RNRs are significant components of marine ecosystems, impacting dNTP pools.
- The NrdJm enzyme's prevalence suggests a specific role in viral replication strategies.
- Viral RNR diversity highlights their evolutionary adaptation and ecological importance.
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