Utilization of cyanobacterial siderophore cyanochelin B by phylogenetically distant heterotrophs suggest its role in mediating microbial interactions
The results indicate that CychB supports a specific subset of co-habiting heterotrophic bacteria during iron starvation, further emphasizing the role of cyanobacteria as key drivers of nutrient flows within globally important microbial soil crust ecosystems, supporting microbial life in nutrient-limited environments.