A Hard Day's Night: Cyanobacteria in Diel Cycles

Trends Microbiol. 2019 Mar;27(3):231-242. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.11.002. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that are influential in global geochemistry and are promising candidates for industrial applications. Because the livelihood of cyanobacteria is directly dependent upon light, a comprehensive understanding of metabolism in these organisms requires taking into account the effects of day-night transitions and circadian regulation. These events synchronize intracellular processes with the solar day. Accordingly, metabolism is controlled and structured differently in cyanobacteria than in heterotrophic bacteria. Thus, the approaches applied to engineering heterotrophic bacteria will need to be revised for the cyanobacterial chassis. Here, we summarize important findings related to diurnal metabolism in cyanobacteria and present open questions in the field.

Keywords: circadian clock; diurnal physiology; light–dark cycles; photosynthesis; redox regulation; signaling nucleotides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biotechnology
  • Circadian Clocks
  • Cyanobacteria / genetics
  • Cyanobacteria / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Photoperiod*
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • NADP