Hidden carbon: uncovering the diversity and function of polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) exhibit diverse monomer compositions that are crucial microbial traits for understanding carbon storage across ecosystems.

• Why it matters: Current ecological research mainly emphasizes polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), overlooking the broader chemical diversity of PHAs, which limits understanding of microbial carbon dynamics.
• What they did: The study proposes a multiscale framework, from single cells to ecosystems, to investigate PHA monomer composition as a key microbial trait influencing carbon storage.
• The result: This approach aims to uncover hidden carbon dynamics by revealing the diversity and function of PHAs beyond PHB, enhancing insights into microbial carbon storage processes.