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Phototactic motility in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

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Abstract

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a unicellular motile cyanobacterium that shows positive and negative phototaxis on agar plates under lateral illumination. Recent studies on the molecular mechanisms of the phototactic motility of Synechocystis have revealed that a number of genes are responsible for its pilus-dependent motility and phototaxis. Here we describe what is known about these genes. We also discuss the novel spectral properties of the phytochrome-like photoreceptor PixJ1 in Synechocystis, that is essential for positive phototaxis and which has revealed the existence of a new group of chromophore-binding proteins in cyanobacteria.

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  1. Department of Life Sciences (Biology), The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan

    Shizue Yoshihara & Masahiko Ikeuchi

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  1. Shizue Yoshihara
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Yoshihara, S., Ikeuchi, M. Phototactic motility in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Photochem Photobiol Sci 3, 512–518 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1039/b402320j

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