Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria

Abstract

SummaryThe cyanobacteria are a diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes, of which many species synthesize cyclic nucleotide monophosphates. The role of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacterial biology has been studied through phenotypic, molecular, genetic, and computer‐based analyses and here I review the history of the field. The study of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria has been informed by experiments performed in unrelated organisms but recent investigations have, however, demonstrated that scientific principles, applicable to a wide range of species, can be derived from the study of cyclic nucleotide biology in cyanobacteria and I detail some of this work. Contents Summary 23 I. Introduction 23 II. Cyclic nucleotide monophosphates 24 III. cNMPs and their roles in cyanobacteria 26 IV. Molecular identification of components of the cNMP signalling pathway in cyanobacteria 27 V. Lessons from cAMP signalling in cyanobacteria for other organisms 30 Acknowledgements 31