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. 2023 May 12;17(8):1167–1183. doi: 10.1038/s41396-023-01427-8

Fig. 6. A model depicting inorganic nitrogen exchange during algal-bacterial interactions.

Fig. 6

Inorganic nitrogen exchange underlies the algal-bacterial dynamic interaction. Algae secrete nitrite in a growth-phase dependent manner, with a nitrite peak during mid exponential growth. Bacteria reduce algal-secreted nitrite to NO via denitrification. NO secreted by bacteria triggers algal death at stationary phase, during which algae produce NO. Algal-secreted NO propagates the death signal among algal cells, causing the collapse of the algal population.