Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40644537›Full record

ArticleScience advances2025

Constraining biorecalcitrance of carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules in the ocean.

Ruanhong Cai, Oliver J Lechtenfeld, Zhenwei Yan, Yuanbi Yi, Xiaoxia Chen, Qiang Zheng, Boris P Koch, Nianzhi Jiao, Ding He

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ruanhong CaiDepartment of Ocean Science, Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7085-1108
Oliver J LechtenfeldDepartment of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Research Group BioGeoOmics, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5313-6014
Zhenwei YanDepartment of Ocean Science, Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yuanbi YiDepartment of Ocean Science, Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8420-8025
Xiaoxia ChenState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, 361102 Xiamen, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8805-7519
Qiang ZhengState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, 361102 Xiamen, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6836-2310
Boris P KochAlfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8453-731X
Nianzhi JiaoState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, 361102 Xiamen, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6356-6744
Ding HeDepartment of Ocean Science, Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9620-6115

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one of Earth's largest long-term carbon reservoirs, critical to the global carbon cycle. A key breakthrough in understanding this pool is the identification of biorefractory carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM). Recent studies have challenged the biorecalcitrance of CRAM but lacked detailed molecular evidence. Using advanced online countergradient liquid chromatography-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to track microbial incubation, we revealed a wide spectrum of CRAM bioavailability regulated by molecular polarity. CRAM with lower polarity were preferentially degraded, whereas microbial reworking led to production of higher-polarity CRAM, characterized by increased oxidation state, nitrogen content, and aromaticity. Some microbially transformed CRAM were frequently detected in a global DOM dataset of 1485 seawater samples, suggesting their potential persistence in marine environments. This study provides molecular insights into the biorecalcitrance and transformation pathway of CRAM, underscoring the complexity and dynamic nature of marine organic carbon cycling.

Indexed as

SeawaterCarbonCarbon CycleChromatography, LiquidMass SpectrometryOceans and SeasCarbon

Identifiers

PMID40644537
PMCPMC12248312

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.