Profiles of photosynthetic pigment accumulation and expression of photosynthesis-related genes in the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp.: Effects of LED wavelengths

Abstract

Light quality is a significant environmental factor that influences photosynthetic pigments in cyanobacteria. In the present study, we illuminated the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. with white (350 ∼ 700 nm), red (630 nm), green (530 nm), and blue (450 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs) and measured pigment levels (chlorophyll, carotenoid, and phycobiliprotein) and expression of photosynthesis-related genes (pebA, psbB, and psaE). The amount of photosynthetic pigments (total pigments, chlorophyll, and phycobiliproteins) was higher in the green and blue LED groups than in the white and red LED groups after 8 days of culture. The cells were prepared in a 1.5 mL solution for the analysis of the total pigments, chlorophyll, and carotenoid, and in a 2 mL for analysis of phycobiliproteins. The mRNA expression levels of pebA and psbB significantly increased after 8 days of cultivation under green and blue light, while the mRNA expression levels of psaE decreased. These results indicate that green and blue light increase the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments. In contrast red light induced mRNA expression of psaE and stimulated cell growth in Synechococcus sp.