Title

Terrestrial dimethyl sulfide: Template for astrobiology

Authors

Paul Shapshak^1,*, Jean Schneider², Beata Casanas¹, Charurut Somboonwit¹ & John T. Sinnott¹

Affiliation

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida - 33606 USA; ²Observatoire de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France; *Corresponding author

Email

Paul Shapshak - E-mail: pshapshgak@gmail.com
Jean Schneider - E-mail: jean.schneider@obspm.fr
Beata Casanas - E-mail: beata@usf.edu
Charurut Somboonwit - E-mail: charurut@usf.edu
John T. Sinnott - E-mail: johntsinnott@gmail.com
 

Article Type

Editorial

Date

Received June 1, 2025; Revised June 30, 2025; Accepted June 30, 2025, Published June 30, 2025

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.

Keywords

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl-sulfonio-propionate (DMSP), terrestrial marine microbial metabolism, viruses, sulfur cycling pathways, climate feedback, atmospheric chemistry, biosignatures, vegetation reflectance, astrobiology, asteroseismology, Hycean sub-Neptune exoplanets, mid-infrared transmission spectra, James Webb Space Telescope MIRI instrument.

Citation

Shapshak et al. Bioinformation 21(6): 1668-1671 (2025)

Edited by

Paul Shapshak

ISSN

0973-2063

Publisher

Biomedical Informatics

License

This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.