Terrestrial dimethyl sulfide: Template for astrobiology.

Paul Shapshak, Jean Schneider, Beata Casanas, Charurut Somboonwit, John T Sinnott

Abstract readEditorial

In one paragraph

Article in Bioinformation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Paul ShapshakDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida - 33606 USA.

Jean SchneiderObservatoire de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France.

Beata CasanasDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida - 33606 USA.

Charurut SomboonwitDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida - 33606 USA.

John T SinnottDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida - 33606 USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a volatile breakdown product of dimethyl-sulfonio-propionate (DMSP). DMS is synthesized by marine phytoplankton, plays a central role in Earth's sulfur cycle and has growing relevance in astrobiology. DMS formation is mediated by complex microbial, viral, enzymatic and photochemical processes that reflect dynamic interactions within marine ecosystems. Bacterial pathways responsible for DMSP degradation are genetically diverse and ecologically widespread, while viral lysis of phytoplankton contributes to release and recycling of sulfur compounds. Once released into the atmosphere, DMS contributes to sulfate aerosol formation, influencing cloud condensation and planetary albedo - an example of biogeochemical feedback between ocean life and climate. This report reviews terrestrial DMS production, including microbial, viral and abiotic contributions. Given its volatility, detectability and potential biological origin, DMS is considered a promising biosignature candidate in the search for life on exoplanets.

Indexed as

asteroseismologyastrobiologyatmospheric chemistrybiosignaturesclimate feedbackDimethyl sulfide (DMS)dimethyl-sulfonio-propionate (DMSP)Hycean sub-Neptune exoplanetsJames Webb Space Telescope MIRI instrumentmid-infrared transmission spectrasulfur cycling pathwaysterrestrial marine microbial metabolismvegetation reflectanceviruses

Identifiers

PMID40978634

DOI10.6026/973206300211668

PMCPMC12449544

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

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.