Abstract
Cyanobacteria constitute the only phylum of oxygen-evolving photosynthetic prokaryotes that shaped the oxygenic atmosphere of our planet. Over time, cyanobacteria have evolved as a widely diverse group of organisms that have colonized most aquatic and soil ecosystems of our planet and constitute a large proportion of the biomass that sustains the biosphere. Cyanobacteria synthesize a vast array of biologically active metabolites that are of great interest for human health and industry, and several model cyanobacteria can be genetically manipulated. Hence, cyanobacteria are regarded as promising microbial factories for the production of chemicals from highly abundant natural resources, e.g., solar energy, CO2, minerals, and waters, eventually coupled to wastewater treatment to save costs. In this review, we summarize new important discoveries on the plasticity of the photoautotrophic metabolism of cyanobacteria, emphasizing the coordinated partitioning of carbon and nitrogen towards growth or compound storage, and the importance of these processes for biotechnological perspectives. We also emphasize the importance of redox regulation (including glutathionylation) on these processes, a subject which has often been overlooked.
Highlights
IntroductionCyanobacteria are very ancient organisms (from 2.3 to 3.5 billion years old [1]) that perform oxygen-evolving (plant-like) photosynthesis
Cyanobacteria are very ancient organisms that perform oxygen-evolving photosynthesis
This study confirmed the different interior organization of β-carboxysomes as compared to α-carboxysomes. These differences may result from the distinct carboxysome biogenesis pathways; assembly of β-carboxysomes is initiated by the nucleation of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase enzyme (RubisCO) and CcmM35 that precedes shell encapsulation, whereas α-carboxysome biogenesis starts from shell formation and/or a shell-interior assembly [53]
Summary
Cyanobacteria are very ancient organisms (from 2.3 to 3.5 billion years old [1]) that perform oxygen-evolving (plant-like) photosynthesis. 7942, and Synechococcus PCC 7002 because they possess a simple (unicellular) morphology, a small genome (3.95; 2.75, and 3.40 Mb, respectively) and powerful genetic tools [23] These three cyanobacteria possess interesting physiological and metabolic differences. PQH2 passes its reducing equivalents to an electron transfer chain, which feeds into photosystem I (PSI) where they gain additional reducing potential from a second light reaction [29], to generate chemical energy (ATP) and reducing power (NADPH) [30]. Fermentation likely operates for the generation of energy to cope with long periods of darkness under anoxic conditions
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