Osmotrophy

Osmotrophy is a form of heterotrophic nutrition[1] and a cellular feeding mechanism involving the direct absorption of dissolved organic compounds by osmosis.[2] Organisms that use osmotrophy are called osmotrophs. Osmotrophy is used by diverse groups of organisms.[2] Organisms that use osmotrophy include microorganisms like bacteria, many species of protists and most fungi. Invertebrate animal groups like molluscs, sponges, corals, brachiopods and echinoderms may use osmotrophic feeding as a supplemental food source. A common subset of osmotrophy is lysotrophy, in which organisms secrete enzymes into the extracellular environment to break down macromolecules into smaller, soluble molecules for absorption.[2]

  1. ^ Balch, W. M., Drapeau, D. T., Poulton, N., Archer, S. D., Cartisano, C., Burnell, C., & Godrijan, J. (2023). Osmotrophy of dissolved organic compounds by coccolithophore populations: Fixation into particulate organic and Inorganic Carbon. Science Advances, 9(21). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf6973
  2. ^ a b c Richards TA, Talbot NJ (October 2018). "Osmotrophy". Current Biology. 28 (20): R1179 – R1180. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.069. PMID 30352181.
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