Project description:To investigate acclimation mechanisms employed under extreme high light conditions, gene expression analysis was performed using the model microalgae Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (PCC 6803) cultured under various light intensities. From the low to the mid light conditions, the expression of genes related to light harvesting systems was repressed, whereas that of CO2 fixation and of D1 protein turnover-related genes was induced. Gene expression data also revealed that the down-regulation of genes related to flagellum synthesis (pilA2), pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (pntA and pntB), and sigma factor (sigA and sigF) represents acclimation mechanisms of PCC 6803 under excessive high light conditions.
Project description:we obtained a HL tolerant (Tol) strain Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by adaptive evolution experiment that the cells were repeatedly subcultured for prolonged periods of time (52 days) under high light stress condition (7000 to 9000 μmol m-2 s-1). Although the growth of the parental strain almost stopped under 9000 μmol m-2 s-1, no growth inhibition was observed in the Tol strain. Furthermore, the growth rate was identical to that of parental strain under low light condition (40 μmol m-2 s-1). To further investigate the high light tolerant mechanisms in the Tol strain, the transcriptome was performed. The transcriptome data suggests the increase of isiA expression in the Tol strain under HL condition. The overexpression of isiA successfully enhanced the HL stress tolerance in the parental strain. The HL tolerant mechanism was different from previous reported mechanisms, such as a reduction of the light-harvesting antenna size. The tolerant strain would be an attractive host for bio-production under high light conditions.