Identification of A Novel Gene (slr2031) Involved in High-Light Resistance in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Abstract

Acclimation to light environments is one of the most important responses to optimize the photosynthetic apparatus in cyanobacteria and plants. We have recently identified a gene (pmgA) in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which is specifically involved in modulation of photosystem stoichiometry in response to high light (I, 2). Unexpectedly, pingA mutant, which failed to modulate the photosystem stoichiometry in response to growth light conditions, retained higher photosynthetic activities on a per cell basis and grew faster than wild type under high light conditions of short duration, whereas it could not survive probably duc to accumulation of oxidative damage under prolonged high light stress conditions (3). Here, to extend our molecular ecophysiological studies on high light responses in cyanobacteria, we reported that another novel gene (slr2031) is involved in various functions including high light responses, motility and transformation.

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