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Life
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Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria
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Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 13065

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Asunción Contreras

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Genetics Division, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
Interests: cyanobacteria genetics; molecular microbiology; interaction networks; nitrogen signalling
Dr. Jose I. Labella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dpto. Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Interests: signal transduction; gene expression; stress responses; interaction networks; genetic engineering; phylogenetic analysis; bioinformatics; global approaches

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cyanobacteria, oxygenic photosynthetic organisms that can be found in all kinds of illuminated environments on Earth, are of paramount ecological and biotechnological importance. Their biodiversity and idiosyncrasy can be linked to the sensitive and complex systems that they have acquired to adapt and respond to day–night cycles and many other environmental changes or extreme habitats. However, many of these regulatory mechanisms remain unexplored or poorly known and additional studies are required to understand them, as well as to narrow the gap on knowledge between cyanobacteria and other bacterial groups, particularly with those represented by species widely used as genetic model systems.

In this Life Special Issue, we would like to put the focus on the singularities of cyanobacteria, with an emphasis on the study of a) biological processes or cell components that are either unique to cyanobacteria or oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, and b) differential aspects on the regulation of all basic and common processes, including the gene expression machinery.

Therefore, we welcome studies, both original and review articles, which contribute to a) a better understanding of cyanobacterial processes that are of evolutionary and ecological importance, and b) show the need and promote the use of suitable cyanobacterial model systems for the advancement of basic knowledge and biotechnological applications.

Prof. Dr. Asunción Contreras
Dr. Jose I. Labella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • signal transduction
  • metabolic pathways
  • gene expression
  • oxygenic photosynthesis
  • model systems
  • stress responses
  • interaction networks
  • biotechnological platforms
  • cyrcadian rithms
  • genetic engineering

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 6210 KiB  
Article
The Role of MreB, MreC and MreD in the Morphology of the Diazotrophic Filament of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120
by Cristina Velázquez-Suárez, Ignacio Luque and Antonia Herrero
Life 2022, 12(9), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12091437 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2139
Abstract
The cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 forms filaments of communicating cells. Under conditions of nitrogen scarcity, some cells differentiate into heterocysts, allowing the oxygen-sensitive N2-reduction system to be expressed and operated in oxic environments. The key to diazotrophic growth is the [...] Read more.
The cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 forms filaments of communicating cells. Under conditions of nitrogen scarcity, some cells differentiate into heterocysts, allowing the oxygen-sensitive N2-reduction system to be expressed and operated in oxic environments. The key to diazotrophic growth is the exchange of molecules with nutritional and signaling functions between the two types of cells of the filament. During heterocyst differentiation, the peptidoglycan sacculus grows to allow cell enlargement, and the intercellular septa are rebuilt to narrow the contact surface with neighboring cells and to hold specific transport systems, including the septal junction complexes for intercellular molecular transfer, which traverse the periplasm between heterocysts and neighboring vegetative cells through peptidoglycan nanopores. Here we have followed the spatiotemporal pattern of peptidoglycan incorporation during heterocyst differentiation by Van-FL labeling and the localization and role of proteins MreB, MreC and MreD. We observed strong transitory incorporation of peptidoglycan in the periphery and septa of proheterocysts and a maintained focal activity in the center of mature septa. During differentiation, MreB, MreC and MreD localized throughout the cell periphery and at the cell poles. In mreB, mreC or mreD mutants, instances of strongly increased peripheral and septal peptidoglycan incorporation were detected, as were also heterocysts with aberrant polar morphology, even producing filament breakage, frequently lacking the septal protein SepJ. These results suggest a role of Mre proteins in the regulation of peptidoglycan growth and the formation of the heterocyst neck during differentiation, as well as in the maintenance of polar structures for intercellular communication in the mature heterocyst. Finally, as previously observed in filaments growing with combined nitrogen, in the vegetative cells of diazotrophic filaments, the lack of MreB, MreC or MreD led to altered localization of septal peptidoglycan-growth bands reproducing an altered localization of FtsZ and ZipN rings during cell division. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria)
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14 pages, 1401 KiB  
Article
Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 as a Platform for Bioproduction of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
by María Santos-Merino, Raquel Gutiérrez-Lanza, Juan Nogales, José Luis García and Fernando de la Cruz
Life 2022, 12(6), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060810 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3076
Abstract
Alpha-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid are precursors of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential nutrients in the human diet. The ability of cyanobacteria to directly convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into bio-based compounds makes them promising microbial chassis to sustainably produce omega-3 fatty acids. However, [...] Read more.
Alpha-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid are precursors of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential nutrients in the human diet. The ability of cyanobacteria to directly convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into bio-based compounds makes them promising microbial chassis to sustainably produce omega-3 fatty acids. However, their potential in this area remains unexploited, mainly due to important gaps in our knowledge of fatty acid synthesis pathways. To gain insight into the cyanobacterial fatty acid biosynthesis pathways, we analyzed two enzymes involved in the elongation cycle, FabG and FabZ, in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Overexpression of these two enzymes led to an increase in C18 fatty acids, key intermediates in omega-3 fatty acid production. Nevertheless, coexpression of these enzymes with desaturases DesA and DesB from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 did not improve alpha-linolenic acid production, possibly due to their limited role in fatty acid synthesis. In any case, efficient production of stearidonic acid was not achieved by cloning DesD from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in combination with the aforementioned DesA and DesB, reaching maximum production at 48 h post induction. According to current knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that S. elongatus PCC 7942 can be used as an autotrophic chassis to produce stearidonic acid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria)
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Review

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28 pages, 4720 KiB  
Review
Emerging Trends of Nanotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Cyanobacteria to Optimize Production for Future Applications
by Rajakumar Govindasamy, Ekambaram Gayathiri, Sathish Sankar, Baskar Venkidasamy, Palanisamy Prakash, Kaliaperumal Rekha, Varsha Savaner, Abirami Pari, Natesan Thirumalaivasan and Muthu Thiruvengadam
Life 2022, 12(12), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12122013 - 2 Dec 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4577
Abstract
Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize various fields of research and development. Multiple nanoparticles employed in a nanotechnology process are the magic elixir that provides unique features that are not present in the component’s natural form. In the framework of contemporary research, it [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize various fields of research and development. Multiple nanoparticles employed in a nanotechnology process are the magic elixir that provides unique features that are not present in the component’s natural form. In the framework of contemporary research, it is inappropriate to synthesize microparticles employing procedures that include noxious elements. For this reason, scientists are investigating safer ways to produce genetically improved Cyanobacteria, which has many novel features and acts as a potential candidate for nanoparticle synthesis. In recent decades, cyanobacteria have garnered significant interest due to their prospective nanotechnological uses. This review will outline the applications of genetically engineered cyanobacteria in the field of nanotechnology and discuss its challenges and future potential. The evolution of cyanobacterial strains by genetic engineering is subsequently outlined. Furthermore, the recombination approaches that may be used to increase the industrial potential of cyanobacteria are discussed. This review provides an overview of the research undertaken to increase the commercial avenues of cyanobacteria and attempts to explain prospective topics for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria)
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13 pages, 1287 KiB  
Review
The Conserved Family of the Pyridoxal Phosphate-Binding Protein (PLPBP) and Its Cyanobacterial Paradigm PipY
by Lorena Tremiño, Antonio Llop, Vicente Rubio and Asunción Contreras
Life 2022, 12(10), 1622; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101622 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2344
Abstract
The PLPBP family of pyridoxal phosphate-binding proteins has a high degree of sequence conservation and is represented in all three domains of life. PLPBP members, of which a few representatives have been studied in different contexts, are single-domain proteins with no known enzymatic [...] Read more.
The PLPBP family of pyridoxal phosphate-binding proteins has a high degree of sequence conservation and is represented in all three domains of life. PLPBP members, of which a few representatives have been studied in different contexts, are single-domain proteins with no known enzymatic activity that exhibit the fold type III of PLP-holoenzymes, consisting in an α/β barrel (TIM-barrel), where the PLP cofactor is solvent-exposed. Despite the constant presence of cofactor PLP (a key catalytic element in PLP enzymes), PLPBP family members appear to have purely regulatory functions affecting the homeostasis of vitamin B6 vitamers and amino/keto acids. Perturbation of these metabolites and pleiotropic phenotypes have been reported in bacteria and zebrafish after PLPBP gene inactivation as well as in patients with vitamin B6-dependent epilepsy that results from loss-of-function mutations at the PLPBP. Here, we review information gathered from diverse studies and biological systems, emphasizing the structural and functional conservation of the PLPBP members and discussing the informative nature of model systems and experimental approaches. In this context, the relatively high level of structural and functional characterization of PipY from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 provides a unique opportunity to investigate the PLPBP roles in the context of a signaling pathway conserved in cyanobacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria)
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