Abstract
The phototactic cyanobacterium Synechocystis spec. PCC 6803 is spherical, two to three micrometer in diameter, and can directly and accurately perceive the position of a light source and consequently move into this direction. The cell body acts as a very effective spherical microlens, focusing a sharp image of the light source close to the non-illuminated side of the cell. We predict that this lensing effect leads to the inactivation of type IV pili on the far side of the light source whereas they assemble on the front side to pull the cells towards the light source.
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