Marine Cyanobacterium Synechococcus Sp Research Articles

Marine cyanobacterial biomass is an efficient feedstock for fungal bioprocesses

BackgroundMarine cyanobacteria offer many sustainability advantages, such as the ability to fix atmospheric CO2, very fast growth and no dependence on freshwater for culture. Cyanobacterial biomass is a rich source of sugars and proteins, two essential nutrients for culturing any heterotroph. However, no previous study has evaluated their application as a feedstock for fungal bioprocesses.ResultsIn this work, we cultured the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 in a 3-L externally illuminated bioreactor with working volume of 2 L with a biomass productivity of ~ 0.8 g L−1 day−1. Hydrolysis of the biomass with acids released proteins and hydrolyzed glycogen while hydrolysis of the biomass with base released only proteins but did not hydrolyze glycogen. Among the different acids tested, treatment with HNO3 led to the highest release of proteins and glucose. Cyanobacterial biomass hydrolysate (CBH) prepared in HNO3 was used as a medium to produce cellulase enzyme by the Penicillium funiculosum OAO3 strain while CBH prepared in HCl and treated with charcoal was used as a medium for citric acid by Aspergillus tubingensis. Approximately 50% higher titers of both products were obtained compared to traditional media.ConclusionsThese results show that the hydrolysate of marine cyanobacteria is an effective source of nutrients/proteins for fungal bioprocesses.

Structure of the antenna complex expressed during far-red light photoacclimation in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335

Far-red light photoacclimation, or FaRLiP, is a facultative response exhibited by some cyanobacteria that allows them to absorb and utilize lower energy light (700 to 800 nm) than the wavelengths typically used for oxygenic photosynthesis (400 to 700 nm). During this process, three essential components of the photosynthetic apparatus are altered: photosystem I, photosystem II, and the phycobilisome. In all three cases, at least some of the chromophores found in these pigment-protein complexes are replaced by chromophores that have red-shifted absorbance relative to the analogous complexes produced in visible light. Recent structural and spectroscopic studies have elucidated important features of the two photosystems when altered to absorb and utilize far-red light, but much less is understood about the modified phycobiliproteins made during FaRLiP. We used single-particle, cryo-electron microscopy to determine the molecular structure of a phycobiliprotein core complex comprising allophycocyanin variants that absorb far-red light during FaRLiP in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335. The structure reveals the arrangement of the numerous red-shifted allophycocyanin variants and the probable locations of the chromophores that serve as the terminal emitters in this complex. It also suggests how energy is transferred to the photosystem II complexes produced during FaRLiP. The structure additionally allows comparisons with other previously studied allophycocyanins to gain insights into how phycocyanobilin chromophores can be tuned to absorb far-red light. These studies provide new insights into how far-red light is harvested and utilized during FaRLiP, a widespread cyanobacterial photoacclimation mechanism.

Engineering Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 for sustainable production of sucrose

Sucrose is a readily available substrate and feedstock for biotechnology, which is biosynthesized by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Engineered cyanobacteria with enhanced sucrose production may be a viable alternative to sucrose synthesis from plants. The marine cyanobacteria which can be cultivated in seawater have the potential to provide a sustainable solution. The model marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 (Syn7002) has many features for a good chassis, including a fast growth rate and a wide range of stress tolerances. Syn7002 synthesizes mainly glucosylglycerol and traces of sucrose as compatible solutes under salt stress. The compatible solute glucosylglycerate was also found in small amounts in Syn7002. To enhance sucrose production in Syn7002, the sucrose biosynthesis genes and the sucrose transporter gene were overexpressed. And the competing pathway genes and the sucrose hydrolysis gene were inactivated. The sucrose production in the engineered strain can reach 2282 mg/L in 8 days under 1 M NaCl stress. With the further substitution of sucrose biosynthesis genes from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the engineered strain can efficiently produce sucrose over a wide range of NaCl concentrations. The efficient sucrose production by marine cyanobacteria will promote the sustainable supply of sugar feedstocks for biotechnology and aquaculture.

Using δFIP as a potential biomarker for risk assessment of environmental pollutants in aquatic ecosystem: A case study of marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002

Increased hazardous substances application causes more environmental pollution and risks for human health. Microalgae are the important biological groups in marine ecosystem, and considered to be sensitive to environmental pollutants. Therefore, toxicity test on marine microalgae could provide the most efficient method for aquatic toxicity assessment, and could also be used as the early warning signals in aquatic ecosystem. In view of this, our study aimed at investigating the toxicity potential of two typical organic compounds, and screening out novel photosynthetic indicators for the risk assessment of environmental pollutants. In this study, benzyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol were chosen as the target organic compounds, and preliminary toxicity mechanism of these organic compounds on marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 was investigated with chlorophyll fluorescence technology. Results showed that PCC7002 could be affected by benzyl alcohol or 2-phenylethanol stress, and the toxicity effect was concentration-dependent. And external benzyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol stress damaged the oxygen evolving complex, and suppressed electron transport at the donor and receptor sides of photosystem II (PSII), influencing the absorption, transfer, and application of light energy. Furthermore, potential biomarkers were screened by half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on the basis of pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and fluorescence intensity difference between the I-step and P-step of OJIP curve (δFIP) seems to be the most sensitive indicator for external stress. This study would be of significant interest to the biomarker community, and pave the way for the practical resource for marine pollution monitoring and assessment.

Development of shuttle vectors for rapid prototyping of engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC7002.

Cyanobacteria are of particular interest for chemical production as they can assimilate CO2 and use solar energy to power chemical synthesis. However, unlike the model microorganism of Escherichia coli, the availability of genetic toolboxes for rapid proof-of-concept studies in cyanobacteria is generally lacking. In this study, we first characterized a set of promoters to efficiently drive gene expressions in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002. We identified that the endogenous cpcBA promoter represented one of the strongest promoters in PCC7002. Next, a set of shuttle vectors was constructed based on the endogenous pAQ1 plasmid to facilitate the rapid pathway assembly. Moreover, we used the shuttle vectors to modularly optimize the amorpha-4,11-diene synthesis in PCC7002. By modularly optimizing the metabolic pathway, we managed to redistribute the central metabolism toward the amorpha-4,11-diene production in PCC7002 with enhanced product titer. Taken together, the plasmid toolbox developed in this study will greatly accelerate the generation of genetically engineered PCC7002. KEY POINTS: • Promoter characterization revealed that the endogenous cpcBA promoter represented one of the strongest promoters in PCC7002 • A set of shuttle vectors with different antibiotic selection markers was constructed based on endogenous pAQ1 plasmid • By modularly optimizing the metabolic pathway, amorpha-4,11-diene production in PCC7002 was improved.

Farming on Mars: Treatment of basaltic regolith soil and briny water simulants sustains plant growth.

A fundamental challenge in human missions to Mars is producing consumable foods efficiently with the in situ resources such as soil, water, nutrients and solar radiation available on Mars. The low nutrient content of martian soil and high salinity of water render them unfit for direct use for propagating food crops on Mars. It is therefore essential to develop strategies to enhance nutrient content in Mars soil and to desalinate briny water for long-term missions on Mars. We report simple and efficient strategies for treating basaltic regolith simulant soil and briny water simulant for suitable resources for growing plants. We show that alfalfa plants grow well in a nutrient-limited basaltic regolith simulant soil and that the alfalfa biomass can be used as a biofertilizer to sustain growth and production of turnip, radish and lettuce in the basaltic regolith simulant soil. Moreover, we show that marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 effectively desalinates the briny water simulant, and that desalination can be further enhanced by filtration through basalt-type volcanic rocks. Our findings indicate that it is possible to grow food crops with alfalfa treated basaltic regolith martian soil as a substratum watered with biodesalinated water.

Sustainable citric acid production from CO2 in an engineered cyanobacterium.

Citric acid is one of the most widely used organic acids in the world, with applications ranging from acidity regulation in food and beverages to metal chelation in hydrometallurgical processes. Most of its production is currently derived from fermentative processes, using plant-derived carbon feedstocks. While these are currently dominant, there is an increasing need to develop closed-loop production systems that reduce process carbon footprint. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that an engineered marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 can be used as a sustainable chassis for the photosynthetic conversion of CO2 to citric acid. Decreased citric acid cycle flux, through the use of a theophylline-responsive riboswitch, was combined with improved flux through citrate synthase and enhanced citric acid excretion, resulting in a significant improvement to citric acid production. While allowing citrate production, this strategy induces a growth defect which can be overcome by glutamate supplementation or by fine-tuning aconitase levels, resulting in an increase in production relative to WT of over 100-fold. This work represents a first step toward sustainable production of a commodity organic acid from CO2.

A metallothionein from an open ocean cyanobacterium removes zinc from the sensor protein controlling its transcription

Bacterial metallothioneins are known for a limited range of phyla including cyanobacteria. We have characterised the BmtA from the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. WH8102 (SynBmtA). This strain inhabits the open ocean, one of the most nutrient-poor environments on Earth, with very low total and free Zn2+ concentrations. Therefore, the presence of a metallothionein, usually associated with zinc and cadmium tolerance, in this strain is intriguing. Previous transcriptomics work revealed that unprecedentedly, expression of SynBmtA is activated by the Synechococcus sp. WH8102 “zinc uptake regulator” (SynZur) at elevated [Zn2+]. SynBmtA binds four Zn2+ ions, and its first 37 residues adopt the zinc-finger fold characteristic of BmtAs. In contrast, sequence similarity to other BmtAs in the C-terminal stretch is low. This is expected to affect especially the most reactive site in zinc-transfer reactions. Indeed, chelators were unable to extract Zn2+ from SynBmtA, even in the presence of denaturant. This indicates an extremely stable protein fold, with no accessibility to any bound zinc ions in the folded protein. In addition, the zinc-binding affinity of SynBmtA exceeds those of any other metallothioneins. Apo-SynBmtA is capable of removing zinc from the sensory site of SynZur, providing one possible avenue of de-activating transcription of the synbmtA gene. All of these properties are consistent with a role in safely sequestering any excess zinc, to prevent toxic effects. The fact that this strain stores zinc in a metallothionein rather than employing an efflux pump implies that zinc is a valuable resource for Synechococcus sp. WH8102 and related strains.

Acid-base properties of Synechococcus-derived organic matter

Marine cyanobacteria play an important role in trace metal cycling in the oceans. However, the influence of bacterial detritus following cell lysis – that includes both particulate organic matter (POM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) – is less understood. Previous investigations have shown that the ratio of bacterial detritus to living cells increases significantly with ocean depth, indicating that the former plays a central role in trace metal cycling and eventual sequestration in deep marine sediments. Thus, in this study we produced detritus from the mechanical lysis of the common marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 (referred to as cyPOM and cyDOM), and then measured their buffering capacity through proton adsorption and release via potentiometric acid-base titrations. Both cyPOM and cyDOM were best modelled using a 2-site non-electrostatic protonation model. The cyPOM fraction possessed ligands with pKa values of 5.78 (±0.07) and 9.01 (±0.29) with corresponding site concentrations of 41.8 (±8.15) µmol g−1 and 41.2 (±5.28) µmol g−1, while cyDOM had pKa values of 4.89 (±0.22) and 6.80 (±0.22) and corresponding site concentrations of 42.8 (±14.6) µmol g−1 and 37.3 (±16.5) µmol g−1. As a comparison, intact Synechococcus cells were previously reported to be best modelled by invoking 3-sites with overall ligand densities more than double that of cyPOM and cyDOM. Trace metal (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn) adsorption experiments indicate that cyPOM has a lower affinity towards trace metals than intact Synechococcus cells, evidenced by lower trace metals adsorption per gram of dry mass and therefore less trace metal sequestration potential. This implies that intact Synechococcus cells are chiefly responsible for trace metal sequestration, even at high cyPOM proportions (10:1 – cyPOM:Synechococcus) that are more representative of POM that reaches the seafloor. The cyDOM-trace metal association could not be determined experimentally; thus we applied existing thermodynamic data from modern marine DOM studies acquired via potentiometric titrations and metal-binding constants. Unlike cyPOM, metal speciation is almost entirely accounted for in the dissolved fraction (>99.9%). These results further the view that DOM is the most important microbial fraction in controlling metals speciation in the water column.

Engineering of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 for the photoautotrophic production of light-sensitive riboflavin (vitamin B2)

Due to their capability of photosynthesis and autotrophic growth, cyanobacteria are currently investigated with regard to the sustainable production of a wide variety of chemicals. So far, however, no attempt has been undertaken to engineer cyanobacteria for the biotechnological production of vitamins, which is probably due to the light-sensitivity of many of these compounds. We now describe a photoautotrophic bioprocess to synthesize riboflavin, a vitamin used as a supplement in the feed and food industry. By overexpressing the riboflavin biosynthesis genes ribDGEABHT from Bacillus subtilis in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 riboflavin levels in the supernatant of the corresponding recombinant strain increased 56-fold compared to the wild-type. Introduction of a second promoter region upstream of the heterologous ribAB gene – coding for rate-limiting enzymatic functions in the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway – led to a further increase of riboflavin levels (211-fold compared to the wild-type). Degradation of the light-sensitive product riboflavin was prevented by culturing the genetically engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 strains in the presence of dichromatic light generated by red light-emitting diodes (λ = 630 and 700 nm). Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 naturally is resistant to the toxic riboflavin analog roseoflavin. Expression of the flavin transporter pnuX from Corynebacterium glutamicum in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 resulted in roseoflavin-sensitive recombinant strains which in turn could be employed to select roseoflavin-resistant, riboflavin-overproducing strains as a chassis for further improvement.

Cadmium adsorption to clay-microbe aggregates: Implications for marine heavy metals cycling

Interactions between microorganisms and clay minerals influence the transport and cycling of metal contaminants in both marine and terrestrial environments. The present study was conducted to quantify the adsorption of dissolved cadmium, Cd(II), under seawater-like conditions to the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, three common clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite), as well as cell-clay aggregates. We show here that the Synechococcus-only experiments removed the most Cd above pH 5.5, followed in decreasing order by aggregates of 50% cells:50% individual clays, aggregates of cells and all 3 clays, and individual clays. Electron microscope imaging showed that clays associated in a tangential edge-on orientation to the cells in Synechococcus-clay mineral aggregates. A non-electrostatic surface complexation modeling approach was used to fit Cd adsorption onto Synechococcus cells and individual clay minerals. The resulting Cd binding constants were then used in consort with surface functional group pKa values and site concentrations to accurately predict the extent of Cd adsorption onto the Synechococcus-clay mineral aggregates using the component additivity (CA) approach. We observed that the addition of cyanobacterial cells to clay mineral suspensions led to significantly larger mean aggregate sizes of clay minerals, enhancing the clay sedimentation rate. Although specifically focused on Cd, our study indicates that the ratio of bacterial plankton to clay minerals is an important determinant in terms of understanding the rate with which metals are transferred from the water column to the seafloor.

Evaluation of quenching methods for metabolite recovery in photoautotrophic Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

The first step of many metabolomics studies is quenching, a technique vital for rapidly halting metabolism and ensuring that the metabolite profile remains unchanging during sample processing. The most widely used approach is to plunge the sample into prechilled cold methanol; however, this led to significant metabolite loss in Synecheococcus sp. PCC 7002. Here we describe our analysis of the impacts of cold methanol quenching on the model marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, as well as our brief investigation of alternative quenching methods. We tested several methods including cold methanol, cold saline, and two filtration approaches. Targeted central metabolites were extracted and metabolomic profiles were generated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results indicate that cold methanol quenching induces dramatic metabolite leakage in Synechococcus, resulting in a majority of central metabolites being lost prior to extraction. Alternatively, usage of a chilled saline quenching solution mitigates metabolite leakage and improves sample recovery without sacrificing rapid quenching of cellular metabolism. Finally, we illustrate that metabolite leakage can be assessed, and subsequently accounted for, in order to determine absolute metabolite pool sizes; however, our results show that metabolite leakage is inconsistent across various metabolite pools and therefore must be determined for each individually measured metabolite.

Engineering ethanol production in a marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 through simultaneously removing glycogen synthesis genes and introducing ethanolgenic cassettes

Photosynthetic production of ethanol with cyanobacteria utilizing CO2 and solar energy could serve as a promising route for providing green biofuels. Comparing with Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, the most widely utilized cyanobacteria chassis, a marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (hereafter termed as PCC7002 for short) displayed better tolerances to high temperature and strong illuminations. To engineer ethanol production in PCC7002, we designed a strategy by simultaneous inactivation of glycogen synthesis pathways and introduction of two ethanolgenic cassettes. Two glgA genes responsible for elongation reaction of glycogen was selected as targets for blocking glycogen synthesis, and the removal of glycogen synthesis in PCC7002 caused growth retardation, which could be rescued by introducing two copies of ethanolgenic pathways. In addition, the synergy effects of blocked glycogen synthesis and gene dosage effects for ethanol synthesis resulted in significantly improved performances for ethanol production in the engineered strain, which synthesized 2.2 g/L ethanol in 10 days. In outdoor conditions, the PCC7002 derived cell factory still maintained considerable ethanolgenic capacities, accumulating 0.8 g/L ethanol in 7 days, with an average productivity of over 100 mg/L/day.

Enhanced Production of D-Lactate in Cyanobacteria by Re-Routing Photosynthetic Cyclic and Pseudo-Cyclic Electron Flow.

Cyanobacteria are promising chassis strains for the photosynthetic production of platform and specialty chemicals from carbon dioxide. Their efficient light harvesting and metabolic flexibility abilities have allowed a wide range of biomolecules, such as the bioplastic polylactate precursor D-lactate, to be produced, though usually at relatively low yields. In order to increase photosynthetic electron flow towards the production of D-lactate, we have generated several strains of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 (Syn7002) with deletions in genes involved in cyclic or pseudo-cyclic electron flow around photosystem I. Using a variant of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii D-lactate dehydrogenase (LDHSRT, engineered to efficiently utilize NADPH in vivo), we have shown that deletion of either of the two flavodiiron flv homologs (involved in pseudo-cyclic electron transport) or the Syn7002 pgr5 homolog (proposed to be a vital part of the cyclic electron transport pathway) is able to increase D-lactate production in Syn7002 strains expressing LDHSRT and the Escherichia coli LldP (lactate permease), especially at low temperature (25°C) and 0.04% (v/v) CO2, though at elevated temperatures (38°C) and/or high (1%) CO2 concentrations, the effect was less obvious. The Δpgr5 background seemed to be particularly beneficial at 25°C and 0.04% (v/v) CO2, with a nearly 7-fold increase in D-lactate accumulation in comparison to the wild-type background (≈1000 vs ≈150 mg/L) and decreased side effects in comparison to the flv deletion strains. Overall, our results show that manipulation of photosynthetic electron flow is a viable strategy to increase production of platform chemicals in cyanobacteria under ambient conditions.

Correction: A nitric oxide synthase-like protein from Synechococcus produces NO/NO3 - from l-arginine and NADPH in a tetrahydrobiopterin- and Ca2+-dependent manner.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are heme-based monooxygenases that convert l-Arg to l-citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), a key signaling molecule and cytotoxic agent in mammals. Bacteria also contain NOS proteins, but the role of NO production within these organisms, where understood, differs considerably from that of mammals. For example, a NOS protein in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335 (syNOS) has recently been proposed to function in nitrogen assimilation from l-Arg. syNOS retains the oxygenase (NOSox) and reductase (NOSred) domains present in mammalian NOS enzymes (mNOSs), but also contains an N-terminal globin domain (NOSg) homologous to bacterial flavohemoglobin proteins. Herein, we show that syNOS functions as a dimer and produces NO from l-Arg and NADPH in a tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)-dependent manner at levels similar to those produced by other NOSs but does not require Ca2+-calmodulin, which regulates NOSred-mediated NOSox reduction in mNOSs. Unlike other bacterial NOSs, syNOS cannot function with tetrahydrofolate and requires high Ca2+ levels (>200 μm) for its activation. NOSg converts NO to NO3− in the presence of O2 and NADPH; however, NOSg did not protect Escherichia coli strains against nitrosative stress, even in a mutant devoid of NO-protective flavohemoglobin. We also found that syNOS does not have NOS activity in E. coli (which lacks H4B) and that the recombinant protein does not confer growth advantages on l-Arg as a nitrogen source. Our findings indicate that syNOS has both NOS and NO oxygenase activities, requires H4B, and may play a role in Ca2+-mediated signaling.

A nitric oxide synthase–like protein from Synechococcus produces NO/NO3− from l-arginine and NAPDH in a tetrahydrobiopterin- and Ca2+-dependent manner

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are heme-based monooxygenases that convert l-Arg to l-citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), a key signaling molecule and cytotoxic agent in mammals. Bacteria also contain NOS proteins, but the role of NO production within these organisms, where understood, differs considerably from that of mammals. For example, a NOS protein in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335 (syNOS) has recently been proposed to function in nitrogen assimilation from l-Arg. syNOS retains the oxygenase (NOSox) and reductase (NOSred) domains present in mammalian NOS enzymes (mNOSs), but also contains an N-terminal globin domain (NOSg) homologous to bacterial flavohemoglobin proteins. Herein, we show that syNOS functions as a dimer and produces NO from l-Arg and NADPH in a tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)-dependent manner at levels similar to those produced by other NOSs but does not require Ca2+-calmodulin, which regulates NOSred-mediated NOSox reduction in mNOSs. Unlike other bacterial NOSs, syNOS cannot function with tetrahydrofolate and requires high Ca2+ levels (>200 μm) for its activation. NOSg converts NO to NO3- in the presence of O2 and NADPH; however, NOSg did not protect Escherichia coli strains against nitrosative stress, even in a mutant devoid of NO-protective flavohemoglobin. We also found that syNOS does not have NOS activity in E. coli (which lacks H4B) and that the recombinant protein does not confer growth advantages on l-Arg as a nitrogen source. Our findings indicate that syNOS has both NOS and NO oxygenase activities, requires H4B, and may play a role in Ca2+-mediated signaling.

Adsorption of biologically critical trace elements to the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002: Implications for marine trace metal cycling

Marine bacterial plankton play a key role in elemental cycling through their ability to bind, assimilate, metabolize, and modify the redox state of trace metals in seawater. Of those processes, arguably the least studied are the mechanisms underpinning trace metal adsorption to planktonic marine bacteria, despite a plethora of literature pertaining to terrestrial species. Recently, Liu et al. (2015) demonstrated that the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 has the capacity to remove appreciable amounts of Cd2+, a proxy for other divalent cations, from seawater by adsorption. In this study, we build on that work and employ a surface complexation modelling (SCM) approach using titration and pH adsorption edge experiments to calculate the thermodynamic binding constants of four bioessential transition metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) to Synechococcus in simulated seawater. Based on the titration results, the major functional groups involved in metal binding were carboxyl groups with a pKa of 5.59 and phosphoryl groups with a pKa of 7.61. Metal adsorption experiments indicate that Synechococcus can bind considerable concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Co at pH 8. When all four metals are simultaneously added to solution, the same adsorption pattern of Zn > Cu > Ni > Co is maintained, and accurately predicted by the SCM. Based on average marine cell densities and turnover rates of Synechococcus cells in the photic zone, we calculate that Synechococcus, in the absence of competing ligands such as dissolved organic matter (DOM), has the theoretical capacity to remove nearly all of the free metal cations from seawater. These observations highlight the surface reactivity of marine cyanobacteria as a potentially important vector for the transfer of dissolved metals from the photic zone to deeper waters or the seafloor in modernoceans, but they also have implications for the Precambrian oceans as sinking cyanobacteria could have acted as an exit channel for trace elements into ancient sediments including banded iron formations (BIF).

Biogenic Polyphosphate Nanoparticles from a Marine Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002: Production, Characterization, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties In Vitro.

Probiotic-derived polyphosphates have attracted interest as potential therapeutic agents to improve intestinal health. The current study discovered the intracellular accumulation of polyphosphates in a marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 as nano-sized granules. The maximum accumulation of polyphosphates in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 was found at the late logarithmic growth phase when the medium contained 0.74 mM of KH2PO4, 11.76 mM of NaNO3, and 30.42 mM of Na2SO4. Biogenic polyphosphate nanoparticles (BPNPs) were obtained intact from the algae cells by hot water extraction, and were purified to remove the organic impurities by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. By using 100 kDa ultrafiltration, BPNPs were fractionated into the larger and smaller populations with diameters ranging between 30–70 nm and 10–30 nm, respectively. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescence and orthophosphate production revealed that a minor portion of BPNPs (about 14–18%) were degraded during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. In vitro studies using lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 cells showed that BPNPs inhibited cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression, and the production of proinflammatory mediators, including NO, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β through suppressing the Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, there is promise in the use of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 to produce BPNPs, an anti-inflammatory postbiotic.

Ability of marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. VDW to remove ammonium from brackish aquaculture wastewater

Nitrogen-rich wastewater is a major problem for the aquaculture industry. To investigate whether algae could be used to remove ammonium from brackish shrimp aquaculture wastewater, marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. VDW was cultured in BG11 medium supplemented with Turks Island salt solution and different concentrations of NH4Cl (1.0–40.0 mg L−1) for 18 days. The cell density of the Synechococcus sp. VDW cultures increased in medium containing between 1 and 10 mg L−1 of NH4Cl, while ammonium concentrations greater than 20.0 mg L−1 had a negative effect on growth. Glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities were also examined, and were found to increase with cell density. Meanwhile, glutamate dehydrogenase activity increased in response to high NH4Cl concentrations (20.0–40.0 mg L−1). The cellular response to ammonium excess was confirmed by measuring gene expression levels using quantitative PCR. Expression of both glnA and gltB was down-regulated compared with the control, while that of gdhA was up-regulated. At an initial concentration of 1–10 mg L−1, 98–100% of the ammonium was removed by day 6 of cultivation. Therefore, these findings suggest that Synechococcus sp. VDW can remove ammonium from contaminated brackish water, and may be helpful for improving the quality of aquaculture wastewater.

Differential physiological responses of the coastal cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 to elevated pCO2 at lag, exponential, and stationary growth phases

We studied the effects of expected end-of-the-century p CO2 (1000 ppm) on the photosynthetic performance of a coastal marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 during the lag, exponential, and stationary growth phases. Elevated p CO2 significantly stimulated growth, and enhanced the maximum cell density during the stationary phase. Under ambient p CO2 conditions, the lag phase lasted for 6 days, while elevated p CO2 shortened the lag phase to two days and extended the exponential phase by four days. The elevated p CO2 increased photosynthesis levels during the lag and exponential phases, but reduced them during the stationary phase. Moreover, the elevated p CO2 reduced the saturated growth light (Ik) and increased the light utilization efficiency ( α ) during the exponential and stationary phases, and elevated the phycobilisome:chlorophyll a (Chl a ) ratio. Furthermore, the elevated p CO2 reduced the particulate organic carbon (POC):Chl a and particulate organic nitrogen (PON):Chl a ratios during the lag and stationary phases, but enhanced them during the exponential phase. Overall, Synechococcus showed differential physiological responses to elevated p CO2 during different growth phases, thus providing insight into previous studies that focused on only the exponential phase, which may have biased the results relative to the effects of elevated p CO2 in ecology or aquaculture.