SELFISH - Selfish bacteria limit glycan carbon sequestration (A03)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms ; Biochemistry ; Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 542264307

Selfish foraging, by limiting glycan availability to the microbial community, may serve as a key mechanism that influences whether glycans are stabilized and contribute to carbon sequestration in the ocean. Our research aims to discover if bacterial selfish mode increases or decreases the efficiency of glycan degradation. We will determine if the selfish mechanism helps retain glycans within dissolved or particulate organic carbon pools, potentially enhancing the ocean’s ability to store carbon. A3 SELFISH will investigate the quantitative contributions of the selfish mechanism to carbon sequestration.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 420: Carbon sequestration at Å resolution - CONCENTRATE
• Applicant Institution: Universität Greifswald
• Project Head: Dr. Greta Reintjes