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Abstract
Cyanobacteria are autotrophs whose photosynthetic process is similar to that of higher plants, although the photosynthetic apparatus is slightly different. They have been widely used for decades as model systems for studying the principles of photosynthesis, especially the effects of environmental stress on photosynthetic activities. Salt stress, which is the most common abiotic stress in nature, combines ionic and osmotic stresses. High cellular ion concentrations and osmotic stress can alter normal metabolic processes and photosynthesis. Additionally, salt stress increases the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents. Excessive amounts of ROS will damage the photosynthetic apparatus, inhibit the synthesis of photosystem-related proteins, including the D1 protein, and destroy the thylakoid membrane structure, leading to inhibited photosynthesis. In this review, we mainly introduce the effects of salt stress on the cyanobacterial membranes and photosynthetic apparatus. We also describe specific salt tolerance mechanisms. A thorough characterization of the responses of membranes and photosynthetic apparatus to salt stress may be relevant for increasing agricultural productivity.
Highlights
Salt stress is an abiotic factor that greatly influences plant survival and development
Cyanobacteria can be used as a model system to study the mechanisms of photosynthesis, membrane lipids and signal transduction under abiotic stress (Los and Murata, 2004; Jensen and Leister, 2014), which may provide an applicable model for higher plants
High reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are toxic to cells, with the associated destruction of the photosynthetic apparatus and membrane lipid peroxidation (Zhang et al, 2012; Sui and Han, 2014; Yang et al, 2020), adversely affecting photosynthesis
Summary
Salt stress is an abiotic factor that greatly influences plant survival and development. Annual worldwide economic losses due to salt stress can exceed US$12 billion (Shabala, 2013; Song and Wang, 2014). Cyanobacteria have a photosynthetic system similar to that of higher plants, and their cytoplasm and thylakoid membranes are similar to those of the chloroplast of higher plants in lipid composition and membrane assembly generally (Rodriguez-Ezpeleta et al, 2005; Los et al, 2010). Cyanobacteria can be used as a model system to study the mechanisms of photosynthesis, membrane lipids and signal transduction under abiotic stress (Los and Murata, 2004; Jensen and Leister, 2014), which may provide an applicable model for higher plants. To survive in extreme or variable environment, cyanobacteria have evolved specific metabolic mechanisms and regulatory systems (Tandeau de Marsac and Houmard, 1993).
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