海洋中的甲硫醇(methanthiol or methyl-mercaptan,MeSH)是藻类代谢产物β-二甲基巯基丙酸内盐(dimethylsulfoniopropionate,DMSP)的主要去甲基化产物。尽管海洋中甲硫醇的浓度很低(0.3nM~28 mM),但它是海洋中细菌蛋白质硫的主要来源。本文综述了甲硫醇的来源、消耗、在海洋生态系统中的作用以及测定方法,这将有助于了解海洋中甲硫醇的生物地球化学循环过程,以及在海洋硫循环中的地位和作用。并对海洋中甲硫醇的进一步研究提出了展望。
In seawater,methanethiol(MeSH) is the primary breakdown product of the algal metabolite(DMSP).Marine bacteria appear to obtain most of their protein sulfur by utilizing MeSH,despite the fact that MeSH is present in seawater at much lower concentrations(0.3 nM ~ 28 mM).The sources,the consumptions and the roles of MeSH in marine ecosystems as well as its determination method were summarized in this paper,which contributed to understand the MeSH biogeochemical cycle processes in the ocean,and its contribution to marine sulfur cycles.Furthermore,some suggestions concerning MeSH research in the future were put forward.