Photophysiological and photosynthetic complex changes during iron starvation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

Unveiling large charge transfer character of PSII in an iron-deficient cyanobacterial membrane: A Stark fluorescence spectroscopy study

In this work, we applied Stark fluorescence spectroscopy to an iron-stressed cyanobacterial membrane to reveal key insights about the electronic structures and excited state dynamics of the two important pigment-protein complexes, IsiA and PSII, both of which prevail simultaneously within the membrane during iron deficiency and whose fluorescence spectra are highly overlapped and hence often hardly resolved by conventional fluorescence spectroscopy. Thanks to the ability of Stark fluorescence spectroscopy, the fluorescence signatures of the two complexes could be plausibly recognized and disentangled. The systematic analysis of the SF spectra, carried out by employing standard Liptay formalism with a realistic spectral deconvolution protocol, revealed that the IsiA in an intact membrane retains almost identical excited state electronic structures and dynamics as compared to the isolated IsiA we reported in our earlier study. Moreover, the analysis uncovered that the excited state of the PSII subunit of the intact membrane possesses a significantly large CT character. The observed notably large magnitude of the excited state CT character may signify the supplementary role of PSII in regulative energy dissipation during iron deficiency.

Function of iron-stress-induced protein A in cyanobacterial cells with monomeric and trimeric photosystem I

The acclimation of cyanobacteria to iron deficiency is crucial for their survival in natural environments. In response to iron deficiency, many cyanobacterial species induce the production of a pigment-protein complex called iron-stress-induced protein A (IsiA). IsiA proteins associate with photosystem I (PSI) and can function as light-harvesting antennas or dissipate excess energy. They may also serve as chlorophyll storage during iron limitation. In this study, we examined the functional role of IsiA in cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 grown under iron limitation conditions by measuring the cellular IsiA content and its capability to transfer energy to PSI. We specifically tested the effect of the oligomeric state of PSI by comparing wild-type (WT) Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 with mutants lacking specific subunits of PSI, namely PsaL/PsaI (PSI subunits XI/VIII) and PsaF/PsaJ (PSI subunits III/IX). Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that IsiA formed functional PSI3-IsiA18 supercomplexes, wherein IsiA effectively transfers energy to PSI on a timescale of 10 ps at room temperature-measured in isolated complexes and in vivo-confirming the primary role of IsiA as an accessory light-harvesting antenna to PSI. However, a notable fraction (40%) remained unconnected to PSI, supporting the notion of a dual functional role of IsiA. Cells with monomeric PSI under iron deficiency contained, on average, only 3 to 4 IsiA complexes bound to PSI. These results show that IsiA can transfer energy to trimeric and monomeric PSI but to varying degrees and that the acclimatory production of IsiA under iron stress is controlled by its ability to perform its light-harvesting function.

Proteomics analysis reveals differential acclimation of coastal and oceanic Synechococcus to climate warming and iron limitation

In many oceanic regions, anthropogenic warming will coincide with iron (Fe) limitation. Interactive effects between warming and Fe limitation on phytoplankton physiology and biochemical function are likely, as temperature and Fe availability affect many of the same essential cellular pathways. However, we lack a clear understanding of how globally significant phytoplankton such as the picocyanobacteria Synechococcus will respond to these co-occurring stressors, and what underlying molecular mechanisms will drive this response. Moreover, ecotype-specific adaptations can lead to nuanced differences in responses between strains. In this study, Synechococcus isolates YX04-1 (oceanic) and XM-24 (coastal) from the South China Sea were acclimated to Fe limitation at two temperatures, and their physiological and proteomic responses were compared. Both strains exhibited reduced growth due to warming and Fe limitation. However, coastal XM-24 maintained relatively higher growth rates in response to warming under replete Fe, while its growth was notably more compromised under Fe limitation at both temperatures compared with YX04-1. In response to concurrent heat and Fe stress, oceanic YX04-1 was better able to adjust its photosynthetic proteins and minimize the generation of reactive oxygen species while reducing proteome Fe demand. Its intricate proteomic response likely enabled oceanic YX04-1 to mitigate some of the negative impact of warming on its growth during Fe limitation. Our study highlights how ecologically-shaped adaptations in Synechococcus strains even from proximate oceanic regions can lead to differing physiological and proteomic responses to these climate stressors.

Comparative modeling of fluorescence and P700 induction kinetics for alga Scenedesmus sp. obliques and cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Role of state 2-state 1 transitions and redox state of plastoquinone pool

The model of thylakoid membrane system (T-M model) (Belyaeva et al. Photosynth Res 2019, 140:1-19) has been improved in order to analyze the induction data for dark-adapted samples of algal (Scenedesmus obliques) and cyanobacterial (Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803) cells. The fluorescence induction (FI) curves of Scenedesmus were measured at light exposures of 5 min, while FI and P700 redox transformations of Synechocystis were recorded in parallel for 100 s intervals. Kinetic data comprising the OJIP-SMT fluorescence induction and OABCDEF P700+ absorbance changes were used to study the processes underlying state transitions qT2→1 and qT1→2 associated with the increase/decrease in Chl fluorescence emission. A formula with the Hill kinetics (Ebenhöh et al. Philos Trans R Soc B 2014, 369:20130223) was introduced into the T-M model, with a new variable to imitate the flexible size of antenna AntM(t) associated with PSII. Simulations revealed that the light-harvesting capacity of PSII increases with a corresponding decrease for that of PSI upon the qT2→1 transition induced by plastoquinone (PQ) pool oxidation. The complete T-M model fittings were attained on Scenedesmus or Synechocystis fast waves OJIPS of FI, while SMT wave of FI was reproduced at intervals shorter than 5 min. Also the fast P700 redox transitions (OABC) for Synechocystis were fitted exactly. Reasonable sets of algal and cyanobacterial electron/proton transfer (ET/PT) parameters were found. In the case of Scenedesmus, ET/PT traits remained the same irrespective of modeling with or without qT2→1 transitions. Simulations indicated a high extent (20%) of the PQ pool reduction under dark conditions in Synechocystis compared to 2% in Scenedesmus.

Absolute quantification of cellular levels of photosynthesis-related proteins in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Quantifying cellular components is a basic and important step for understanding how a cell works, how it responds to environmental changes, and for re-engineering cells to produce valuable metabolites and increased biomass. We quantified proteins in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 given the general importance of cyanobacteria for global photosynthesis, for synthetic biology and biotechnology research, and their ancestral relationship to the chloroplasts of plants. Four mass spectrometry methods were used to quantify cellular components involved in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoid and bilin pigments, membrane assembly, the light reactions of photosynthesis, fixation of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and hydrogen and sulfur metabolism. Components of biosynthetic pathways, such as those for chlorophyll or for photosystem II assembly, range between 1000 and 10,000 copies per cell, but can be tenfold higher for CO₂ fixation enzymes. The most abundant subunits are those for photosystem I, with around 100,000 copies per cell, approximately 2 to fivefold higher than for photosystem II and ATP synthase, and 5-20 fold more than for the cytochrome b₆f complex. Disparities between numbers of pathway enzymes, between components of electron transfer chains, and between subunits within complexes indicate possible control points for biosynthetic processes, bioenergetic reactions and for the assembly of multisubunit complexes.

Acclimation response and ability of growth and photosynthesis of terrestrial cyanobacterium Cylindrospermum sp. strain FS 64 under combined environmental factors

This investigation tested the hypothesis that the native cyanobacteria can acclimatize and grow under the combination of environmental factors and/or how does their process change with the age of culture? Here, we tried to combine multiple factors to simulated what happens in natural ecosystems. We analyzed the physiological response of terrestrial cyanobacterium, Cylindrospermum sp. FS 64 under combination effect of different salinity (17, 80, and 160 mM) and alkaline pHs (9 and 11) at extremely limited carbon dioxide concentration (no aeration) up to 96 h. Our evidence showed that growth, biomass, photosystem II, and phycobilisome activity significantly increased under 80 mM salinity and pH 11. In addition, this combined condition led to a significant increase in maximum light-saturated photosynthesis activity and photosynthetic efficiency. While phycobilisomes and photosystem activity decreased by increasing salinity (160 mM) which caused decreased growth rates after 96 h. The single-cell study (CLMS microscopy) which illustrated the physiological state of the individual and active-cell confirmed the efficiency and effectiveness of both photosystems and phycobilisome under the combined effect of 80 mM salinity and pH 11.

Regulation and Functional Complexity of the Chlorophyll-Binding Protein IsiA

As the oldest known lineage of oxygen-releasing photosynthetic organisms, cyanobacteria play the key roles in helping shaping the ecology of Earth. Iron is an ideal transition metal for redox reactions in biological systems. Cyanobacteria frequently encounter iron deficiency due to the environmental oxidation of ferrous ions to ferric ions, which are highly insoluble at physiological pH. A series of responses, including architectural changes to the photosynthetic membranes, allow cyanobacteria to withstand this condition and maintain photosynthesis. Iron-stress-induced protein A (IsiA) is homologous to the cyanobacterial chlorophyll (Chl)-binding protein, photosystem II core antenna protein CP43. IsiA is the major Chl-containing protein in iron-starved cyanobacteria, binding up to 50% of the Chl in these cells, and this Chl can be released from IsiA for the reconstruction of photosystems during the recovery from iron limitation. The pigment–protein complex (CPVI-4) encoded by isiA was identified and found to be expressed under iron-deficient conditions nearly 30years ago. However, its precise function is unknown, partially due to its complex regulation; isiA expression is induced by various types of stresses and abnormal physiological states besides iron deficiency. Furthermore, IsiA forms a range of complexes that perform different functions. In this article, we describe progress in understanding the regulation and functions of IsiA based on laboratory research using model cyanobacteria.

Effect of complex iron on the phosphorus absorption by two freshwater algae

Iron plays an important role in physiological processes of microalgae and also affects the absorption of other nutrients by algae cells. Therefore, iron is one of the important controlling factors for algae bloom formation. This study investigated the effect of four kinds of complex iron (EDTA-Fe, ferric humate, ferric oxalate and ferric ammonium citrate) on the phosphorus absorption by two freshwater algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda and Anabaena flos-aquae). The results showed that the species and concentration of complex iron had a significant effect on the phosphorus uptake rate of S. quadricauda, but had only a slight effect on that of A. flos-aquae. The former exhibits positive influences on phosphorus absorption and was in the following order: ferric oxalate and EDTA-Fe > ferric humate and ammonium ferric citrate, and these effects depended on whether the presence of complex iron constitutes an environmental pressure for the growth of algal cells.

Growth and photosynthesis acclimated response of the cyanobacterium Fischerella sp. FS 18 exposed to extreme conditions: alkaline pH, limited irradiance, and carbon dioxide concentration

The true-branching heterocystous cyanobacterium Fischerella sp. FS 18 is widely distributed in paddy fields (North) and petroleum polluted soils (South) in Iran. This investigation tested the hypothesis that the cyanobacterium can acclimatize under the combined effect of extreme environmental conditions. Here, we analysed the physiological response of the cyanobacterium under extremely limited irradiance (2 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1); limited carbon dioxide concentration (no aeration) at alkaline pHs (9 and 11) for up to 96 h. When the cyanobacterium was exposed to these extreme conditions at pH 11, we observed a decline in growth, oxygen liberation, photosystems ratio, chlorophyll a, and phycobilisomes activity compared to pH 9 after 24 h. Besides, we registered a significant decrease in maximum photochemical efficiency and activity of photosystem II at pH 11. The comparative single-cell study revealed that pH 9 caused higher efficiency of photosystem II and I, while increasing alkalinity pH 11 led to disturbed phycobilisomes activity after 24 h. This strain was able to recover its structures after 96 h. In addition, spectroscopy analyses revealed the presence of the Mycosporine-like amino acid at pH 9.

Orthogonal Degron System for Controlled Protein Degradation in Cyanobacteria

Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 is a model cyanobacterium for study of the circadian clock, photosynthesis, and bioproduction of chemicals, yet nearly 40% of its gene identities and functions remain unknown, in part due to limitations of the existing genetic toolkit. While classical techniques for the study of genes (e.g., deletion or mutagenesis) can yield valuable information about the absence of a gene and its associated protein, there are limits to these approaches, particularly in the study of essential genes. Herein, we developed a tool for inducible degradation of target proteins in S. elongatus by adapting a method using degron tags from the Mesoplasma florum transfer-mRNA (tmRNA) system. We observed that M. florum lon protease can rapidly degrade exogenous and native proteins tagged with the cognate sequence within hours of induction. We used this system to inducibly degrade the essential cell division factor, FtsZ, as well as shell protein components of the carboxysome. Our results have implications for carboxysome biogenesis and the rate of carboxysome turnover during cell growth. Lon protease control of proteins offers an alternative approach for the study of essential proteins and protein dynamics in cyanobacteria.

Reciprocal Effect of Copper and Iron Regulation on the Proteome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Cyanobacteria can acclimate to changing copper and iron concentrations in the environment via metal homeostasis, but a general mechanism for interpreting their dynamic relationships is sparse. In this study, we assessed growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and investigated proteomic responses to copper and iron deductions. Results showed that copper and iron exerted reciprocal effect on the growth and photosynthesis of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 at combinations of different concentrations. And some proteins involved in the uptake of copper and iron and the photosynthetic electron transport system exhibit Cu-Fe proteomic association. The protein abundance under copper and iron deduction affected the photosynthetic electronic activity of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and eventually affected the growth and photosynthesis. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the Cu-Fe proteomic association of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 can be elucidated via the uptake system of outer membrane-periplasmic space-inner plasma membrane-thylakoid membrane, and this association is mainly required to maintain electron transfer. This study provides a broader view regarding the proteomic association between Cu and Fe in cyanobacteria, which will shed light on the role of these two metal elements in cyanobacterial energy metabolism and biomass accumulation.

The Role of Selected Wavelengths of Light in the Activity of Photosystem II in Gloeobacter violaceus

Gloeobacter violaceus is a cyanobacteria species with a lack of thylakoids, while photosynthetic antennas, i.e., phycobilisomes (PBSs), photosystem II (PSII), and I (PSI), are located in the cytoplasmic membrane. We verified the hypothesis that blue–red (BR) light supplemented with a far-red (FR), ultraviolet A (UVA), and green (G) light can affect the photosynthetic electron transport chain in PSII and explain the differences in the growth of the G. violaceus culture. The cyanobacteria were cultured under different light conditions. The largest increase in G. violaceus biomass was observed only under BR + FR and BR + G light. Moreover, the shape of the G. violaceus cells was modified by the spectrum with the addition of G light. Furthermore, it was found that both the spectral composition of light and age of the cyanobacterial culture affect the different content of phycobiliproteins in the photosynthetic antennas (PBS). Most likely, in cells grown under light conditions with the addition of FR and G light, the average antenna size increased due to the inactivation of some reaction centers in PSII. Moreover, the role of PSI and gloeorhodopsin as supplementary sources of metabolic energy in the G. violaceus growth is discussed.

Dark adaptation and ability of pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry to identify nutrient limitation in the bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing)

Harmful algal blooms in inland waters are widely linked to excess phosphorus (P) loading, but increasing evidence shows that their growth and formation can also be influenced by nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe). Deficiency in N, P, and Fe differentially affects cellular photosystems and is manifested as changes in photosynthetic yield (F_v/F_m). While F_v/F_m has been increasingly used as a rapid and convenient in situ gauge of nutrient deficiency, there are few rigorous comparisons of instrument sensitivity and ability to resolve specific nutrient stresses. This study evaluated the application of F_v/F_m to cyanobacteria using controlled experiments on a single isolate and tested three hypotheses: i) single F_v/F_m measurements taken with different PAM fluorometers can distinguish among limitation by different nutrients, ii) measurements of F_v/F_m made by the addition of DCMU are comparable to PAM fluorometers, and iii) dark adaptation is not necessary for reliable F_v/F_m measurements. We compared F_v/F_m taken from the bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa (UTEX LB 3037) grown in nutrient-replete treatment (R) and N-, P-, and Fe-limited treatments (LN, LP, LFe, respectively), using three pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometers and the chemical photosynthesis inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), and evaluated the effects of dark adaptation prior to PAM measurement. There were significant differences in F_v/F_m estimates among PAM fluorometers for light- versus dark-adapted cell suspensions over the whole experiment (21 days), which were all significantly higher than the DCMU-based measurements. However, dark adaptation had no effect on F_v/F_m when comparing PAM-based values across a single nutrient treatment. All F_v/F_m methods could distinguish LN and LP from R and LFe treatments but none were able to resolve LFe from R, or LN from LP cultures. These results indicated that for most PAM applications, dark adaptation is not necessary, and furthermore that single measurements of F_v/F_m do not provide a robust measurement of nutrient limitation in Microcystis aeruginosa UTEX LB 3037, and potentially other, common freshwater cyanobacteria.

Comparative proteomics of the toxigenic diazotroph Raphidiopsis raciborskii (cyanobacteria) in response to iron

Raphidiopsis raciborskii is an invasive bloom-forming cyanobacteria with the flexibility to utilize atmospheric and fixed nitrogen. Since nitrogen-fixation has a high requirement for iron as an ezyme cofactor, we hypothesize that iron availability would determine the success of the species under nitrogen-fixing conditions. This study compares the proteomic response of cylindrospermopsin-producing and non-toxic strains of R. racibroskii to reduced iron concentrations, under nitrogen-fixing conditions, to examine any strain-specific adaptations that might increase fitness under these conditions. We also compared their proteomic responses at exponential and stationary growth phases to capture the changes throughout the growth cycle. Overall, the toxic strain was more competitive under Fe-starved conditions during exponential phase, with upregulated growth and transport-related proteins. The non-toxic strain showed reduced protein expression across multiple primary metabolism pathways. We propose that the increased expression of porin proteins during the exponential growth phase enables toxic strains to persist under Fe-starved conditions with this ability providing a potential explanation for the increased fitness of cylindrospermoipsin-producing strains during unfavourable environmental conditions.

Exopolysaccharide Features Influence Growth Success in Biocrust-forming Cyanobacteria, Moving From Liquid Culture to Sand Microcosms

Land degradation in drylands is a drawback of the combined action of climate change and human activities. New techniques have been developed to induce artificial biocrusts formation as a tool for restoration of degraded drylands, and among them soils inoculation with cyanobacteria adapted to environmental stress. Improvement of soil properties by cyanobacteria inoculation is largely related to their ability to synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS). However, cyanobacterial EPS features [amount, molecular weight (MW), composition] can change from one species to another or when grown in different conditions. We investigated the differences in growth and polysaccharidic matrix features among three common biocrust-forming cyanobacteria (Nostoc commune, Scytonema javanicum, and Phormidium ambiguum), when grown in liquid media and on sandy soil microcosms under optimal nutrient and water, in controlled laboratory conditions. We extracted and analyzed the released EPS (RPS) and sheath for the liquid cultures, and the more soluble or loosely-bound (LB) and the more condensed or tightly-bound (TB) soil EPS fractions for the sandy soil microcosms. In liquid culture, P. ambiguum showed the greatest growth and EPS release. In contrast, on the sandy soil, S. javanicum showed the highest growth and highest LB-EPS content. N. commune showed no relevant growth after its inoculation of the sandy soil. A difference was observed in terms of MW distribution, showing that the higher MW of the polymers produced by P. ambiguum and S. javanicum compared to the polymers produced by N. commune, could have had a positive effect on growth for the first two organisms when inoculated on the sandy soil. We also observed how both RPS and sheath fractions reflected in the composition of the soil TB-EPS fraction, indicating the role in soil stabilization of both the released and the cell attached EPS. Our results indicate that the features of the polysaccharidic matrix produced by different cyanobacteria can influence their growth success in soil. These results are of great relevance when selecting suitable candidates for large-scale cyanobacteria applications in soil restoration.

Phycobiliproteins from Anabaena variabilis CCC421 and its production enhancement strategies using combinatory evolutionary algorithm approach

The production of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from cyanobacteria represents both the industrial application and their commercial value. In this study, the capability of Anabaena variabilis CCC421 for the production of PBPs was evaluated which was further improved by optimization of selected BG-11 medium components viz. FAC, K₂HPO₄ and trace metals. A design matrix approach using evolutionary algorithm comprised of genetic-algorithm (GA) and fuzzy-logic-methodology (FLM), i.e., GA-Fuzzy, was used for the optimization. The maximum production of PBPs obtained with combinatory approach of GA-Fuzzy was 408.5 mg/L at an optimum combination of factors (FAC 0.153 g/L, K₂HPO₄ 0.2 g/L and Trace metals 0.5 ml/L) which was a 2.13 fold more than the control medium. This novel approach is very useful for modulating biological processes since various nutrients and metabolites have greater influence on these processes.

DnaK3 Is Involved in Biogenesis and/or Maintenance of Thylakoid Membrane Protein Complexes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

DnaK3, a highly conserved cyanobacterial chaperone of the Hsp70 family, binds to cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes, and an involvement of DnaK3 in the biogenesis of thylakoid membranes has been suggested. As shown here, light triggers synthesis of DnaK3 in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which links DnaK3 to the biogenesis of thylakoid membranes and to photosynthetic processes. In a DnaK3 depleted strain, the photosystem content is reduced and the photosystem II activity is impaired, whereas photosystem I is regular active. An impact of DnaK3 on the activity of other thylakoid membrane complexes involved in electron transfer is indicated. In conclusion, DnaK3 is a versatile chaperone required for biogenesis and/or maintenance of thylakoid membrane-localized protein complexes involved in electron transfer reactions. As mentioned above, Hsp70 proteins are involved in photoprotection and repair of PS II in chloroplasts.

Effect of four kinds of complexing iron on the process of iron uptake by Anabaena flos-aquae

AbstractIron (Fe), which is a necessary micronutrient for algal growth, plays an important role in the physiological metabolism and enzymatic reactions of algae. This study aimed to investigate the absorption process of four kinds of complexing iron absorbed by Anabaena flos-aquae. Results showed that the absorptive capacity of A. flos-aquae to complex iron was inversely proportional to the stability of the complex bond of complex iron. Complex iron with weak binding ability can be quickly adsorbed by A. flos-aquae. The absorptive rate was as follows: ferric humate, ferric oxalate >ammonium ferric citrate >EDTA Fe. For EDTA-Fe with a strong binding ability, a moderate iron concentration (e.g. 0.6 mg l^-1) is favourable for iron uptake by A. flos-aquae. Our experiments also revealed that the process of separating iron from complex iron before entering algal cells was probably as follows: iron complexed with organic ligands were firstly adsorbed on the surface of algae cells; afterwards, iron ions were captured by organic matter on the surface of algae cells, accompanied by the rupture of the bond between Fe³⁺ and ligand; finally, the Fe³⁺ entered into the cell of algae while the organic ligands returned to the medium.

Introducing an Arabidopsis thaliana Thylakoid Thiol/Disulfide-Modulating Protein Into Synechocystis Increases the Efficiency of Photosystem II Photochemistry

Photosynthetic species are subjected to a variety of environmental stresses, including suboptimal irradiance. In oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, a major effect of high light exposure is damage to the Photosystem II (PSII) reaction-center protein D1. This process even happens under low or moderate light. To cope with photodamage to D1, photosynthetic organisms evolved an intricate PSII repair and reassembly cycle, which requires the participation of different auxiliary proteins, including thiol/disulfide-modulating proteins. Most of these auxiliary proteins exist ubiquitously in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Due to differences in mobility and environmental conditions, land plants are subject to more extensive high light stress than algae and cyanobacteria. Therefore, land plants evolved additional thiol/disulfide-modulating proteins, such as Low Quantum Yield of PSII 1 (LQY1), to aid in the repair and reassembly cycle of PSII. In this study, we introduced an Arabidopsis thaliana homolog of LQY1 (AtLQY1) into the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and performed a series of biochemical and physiological assays on AtLQY1-expressing Synechocystis. At a moderate growth light intensity (50 µmol photons m-2 s-1), AtLQY1-expressing Synechocystis was found to have significantly higher F v /F m , and lower nonphotochemical quenching and reactive oxygen species levels than the empty-vector control, which is opposite from the loss-of-function Atlqy1 mutant phenotype. Light response curve analysis of PSII operating efficiency and electron transport rate showed that AtLQY1-expressing Synechocystis also outperform the empty-vector control under higher light intensities. The increases in F v /F m , PSII operating efficiency, and PSII electron transport rate in AtLQY1-expressing Synechocystis under such growth conditions most likely come from an increased amount of PSII, because the level of D1 protein was found to be higher in AtLQY1-expressing Synechocystis. These results suggest that introducing AtLQY1 is beneficial to Synechocystis.

Probing the electric field across thylakoid membranes in cyanobacteria

In plants, algae, and some photosynthetic bacteria, the ElectroChromic Shift (ECS) of photosynthetic pigments, which senses the electric field across photosynthetic membranes, is widely used to quantify the activity of the photosynthetic chain. In cyanobacteria, ECS signals have never been used for physiological studies, although they can provide a unique tool to study the architecture and function of the respiratory and photosynthetic electron transfer chains, entangled in the thylakoid membranes. Here, we identified bona fide ECS signals, likely corresponding to carotenoid band shifts, in the model cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. These band shifts, most likely originating from pigments located in photosystem I, have highly similar spectra in the 2 species and can be best measured as the difference between the absorption changes at 500 to 505 nm and the ones at 480 to 485 nm. These signals respond linearly to the electric field and display the basic kinetic features of ECS as characterized in other organisms. We demonstrate that these probes are an ideal tool to study photosynthetic physiology in vivo, e.g., the fraction of PSI centers that are prebound by plastocyanin/cytochrome c ₆ in darkness (about 60% in both cyanobacteria, in our experiments), the conductivity of the thylakoid membrane (largely reflecting the activity of the ATP synthase), or the steady-state rates of the photosynthetic electron transport pathways.

Effect of different kinds of complex iron on the growth of Anabaena flos-aquae

As a necessary micronutrient for algal growth, iron (Fe) has important effects on the physiological metabolism and enzymatic reactions of algae. In this study, a series of experiments were designed to compare the effects of different kinds of iron on the growth of Anabaena flos-aquae. Results showed that the promotion of iron species on algae growth was in order of ferric ammonium citrate > EDTA-Fe > iron ions > iron oxalate. When the concentration of iron is in the range of 0.1-0.8 mg/L, iron species have more significant influences on Anabaena bloom compared with iron concentration. Our experiments also revealed that A. flos-aquae has the strongest adsorption capacity for iron ion among the four iron sources and further induced. This leads to the toxicity of the iron ion group to algal cells at low concentration.

Function of the IsiA pigment-protein complex in vivo

The acclimation of cyanobacterial photosynthetic apparatus to iron deficiency is crucial for their performance under limiting conditions. In many cyanobacterial species, one of the major responses to iron deficiency is the induction of isiA. The function of the IsiA pigment-protein complex has been the subject of intensive research. In this study of the model Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strain, we probe the accumulation of the pigment-protein complex and its effects on in vivo photosynthetic performance. We provide evidence that in this organism the dominant factor controlling IsiA accumulation is the intracellular iron concentration and not photo-oxidative stress or redox poise. These findings support the use of IsiA as a tool for assessing iron bioavailability in environmental studies. We also present evidence demonstrating that the IsiA pigment-protein complex exerts only small effects on the performance of the reaction centers. We propose that its major function is as a storage depot able to hold up to 50% of the cellular chlorophyll content during transition into iron limitation. During recovery from iron limitation, chlorophyll is released from the complex and used for the reconstruction of photosystems. Therefore, the IsiA pigment-protein complex can play a critical role not only when cells transition into iron limitation, but also in supporting efficient recovery of the photosynthetic apparatus in the transition back out of the iron-limited state.

The trouble with oxygen: The ecophysiology of extant phototrophs and implications for the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis

The ability to harvest light to drive chemical reactions and gain energy provided microbes access to high energy electron donors which fueled primary productivity, biogeochemical cycles, and microbial evolution. Oxygenic photosynthesis is often cited as the most important microbial innovation-the emergence of oxygen-evolving photosynthesis, aided by geologic events, is credited with tipping the scale from a reducing early Earth to an oxygenated world that eventually lead to complex life. Anoxygenic photosynthesis predates oxygen-evolving photosynthesis and played a key role in developing and fine-tuning the photosystem architecture of modern oxygenic phototrophs. The release of oxygen as a by-product of metabolic activity would have caused oxidative damage to anaerobic microbiota that evolved under the anoxic, reducing conditions of early Earth. Photosynthetic machinery is particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of oxygen and reactive oxygen species and these effects are compounded by light. As a result, phototrophs employ additional detoxification mechanisms to mitigate oxidative stress and have evolved alternative oxygen-dependent enzymes for chlorophyll biosynthesis. Phylogenetic reconstruction studies and biochemical characterization suggest photosynthetic reactions centers, particularly in Cyanobacteria, evolved to both increase efficiency of electron transfer and avoid photodamage caused by chlorophyll radicals that is acute in the presence of oxygen. Here we review the oxygen and reactive oxygen species detoxification mechanisms observed in extant anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria as well as the emergence of these mechanisms over evolutionary time. We examine the distribution of phototrophs in modern systems and phylogenetic reconstructions to evaluate the emergence of mechanisms to mediate oxidative damage and highlight changes in photosystems and reaction centers, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and niche space in response to oxygen production. This synthesis supports an emergence of H₂S-driven anoxygenic photosynthesis in Cyanobacteria prior to the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis and underscores a role for the former metabolism in fueling fine-tuning of the oxygen evolving complex and mechanisms to repair oxidative damage. In contrast, we note the lack of elaborate mechanisms to deal with oxygen in non-cyanobacterial anoxygenic phototrophs suggesting these microbes have occupied similar niche space throughout Earth's history.

The amazing phycobilisome

Cyanobacteria and red-algae share a common light-harvesting complex which is different than all other complexes that serve as photosynthetic antennas - the Phycobilisome (PBS). The PBS is found attached to the stromal side of thylakoid membranes, filling up most of the gap between individual thylakoids. The PBS self assembles from similar homologous protein units that are soluble and contain conserved cysteine residues that covalently bind the light absorbing chromophores, linear tetra-pyrroles. Using similar construction principles, the PBS can be as large as 16.8 MDa (68×45×39nm), as small as 1.2 MDa (24 × 11.5 × 11.5 nm), and in some unique cases smaller still. The PBS can absorb light between 450 nm to 650 nm and in some cases beyond 700 nm, depending on the species, its composition and assembly. In this review, we will present new observations and structures that expand our understanding of the distinctive properties that make the PBS an amazing light harvesting system. At the end we will suggest why the PBS, for all of its excellent properties, was discarded by photosynthetic organisms that arose later in evolution such as green algae and higher plants.

Phytoplankton community structure in relation to environmental factors and ecological assessment of water quality in the upper reaches of the Genhe River in the Greater Hinggan Mountains

Phytoplankton assemblages were investigated in 2015 along the seasonal changes of the Genhe River in the Greater Hinggan Mountains. The survey was performed in June (spring), August (summer), and October (autumn) at nine sampling stations to study the community composition, abundance, and biodiversity. The results showed that 61 species belonging to 16 genera were identified, including Bacillariophyta of 31 species, Dinophyta 2 species, Cyanophyta 2 species, Chlorophyta 20 species, Chrysophyta 2 species, and Cryptophyta 1 species; Besides, Bacillariophyta are dominant species. Shannon-Wiener (H') and Pielou (J') indices indicated that phytoplankton community was stable. And these two indices were significantly lower in summer than in spring and autumn. Phytoplankton abundance and biomass show significant differences in each season. The total phytoplankton abundance (1122.3 × 104 ind/L) and biomass (6.5709 mg/L) in summer are much higher than that in spring and autumn. There were few species and low abundance and biomass in the upper reaches of Genhe River; this fact can be explained by the cold climate in the Greater Higgnan Mountains region. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to analyze the data. It revealed that Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, pH, and water temperature (WT) were responsible for most of the variation in space in the phytoplankton community. These environmental parameters play an essential role in the community structure variation of phytoplankton in the upper reaches of Genhe River, the strong association between phytoplankton community structure and ecological factors is varied in each season.

A unique ferredoxin acts as a player in the low-iron response of photosynthetic organisms

Iron chronically limits aquatic photosynthesis, especially in marine environments, and the correct perception and maintenance of iron homeostasis in photosynthetic bacteria, including cyanobacteria, is therefore of global significance. Multiple adaptive mechanisms, responsive promoters, and posttranscriptional regulators have been identified, which allow cyanobacteria to respond to changing iron concentrations. However, many factors remain unclear, in particular, how iron status is perceived within the cell. Here we describe a cyanobacterial ferredoxin (Fed2), with a unique C-terminal extension, that acts as a player in iron perception. Fed2 homologs are highly conserved in photosynthetic organisms from cyanobacteria to higher plants, and, although they belong to the plant type ferredoxin family of [2Fe-2S] photosynthetic electron carriers, they are not involved in photosynthetic electron transport. As deletion of fed2 appears lethal, we developed a C-terminal truncation system to attenuate protein function. Disturbed Fed2 function resulted in decreased chlorophyll accumulation, and this was exaggerated in iron-depleted medium, where different truncations led to either exaggerated or weaker responses to low iron. Despite this, iron concentrations remained the same, or were elevated in all truncation mutants. Further analysis established that, when Fed2 function was perturbed, the classical iron limitation marker IsiA failed to accumulate at transcript and protein levels. By contrast, abundance of IsiB, which shares an operon with isiA, was unaffected by loss of Fed2 function, pinpointing the site of Fed2 action in iron perception to the level of posttranscriptional regulation.

Elemental Stoichiometry and Photophysiology Regulation of Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 Under Increasing Severity of Chronic Iron Limitation

Iron (Fe) is an essential cofactor for many metabolic enzymes of photoautotrophs. Although Fe limits phytoplankton productivity in broad areas of the ocean, phytoplankton have adapted their metabolism and growth to survive in these conditions. Using the euryhaline cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002, we investigated the physiological responses to long-term acclimation to four levels of Fe availability representative of the contemporary ocean (36.7, 3.83, 0.47 and 0.047 pM Fe'). With increasing severity of Fe limitation, Synechococcus sp. cells gradually decreased their volume and growth while increasing their energy allocation into organic carbon and nitrogen cellular pools. Furthermore, the total cellular content of pigments decreased. Additionally, with increasing severity of Fe limitation, intertwined responses of PSII functional cross-section (σPSII), re-oxidation time of the plastoquinone primary acceptor QA (τ) and non-photochemical quenching revealed a shift in the photophysiological response between mild to strong Fe limitation compared with severe limitation. Under mild and strong Fe limitation, there was a decrease in linear electron transport accompanied by progressive loss of state transitions. Under severe Fe limitation, state transitions seemed to be largely supplanted by alternative electron pathways. In addition, mechanisms to dissipate energy excess and minimize oxidative stress associated with high irradiances increased with increasing severity of Fe limitation. Overall, our results establish the sequence of physiological strategies adopted by the cells under increasing severity of chronic Fe limitation, within a range of Fe concentrations relevant to modern ocean biogeochemistry.

Adjustments to Photosystem Stoichiometry and Electron Transfer Proteins Are Key to the Remarkably Fast Growth of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973

At the genome level, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 (Synechococcus 2973) is nearly identical to the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (Synechococcus 7942) with only 55 single nucleotide differences separating the two strains. Despite the high similarity between the two strains, Synechococcus 2973 grows three times faster, accumulates significantly more glycogen, is tolerant to extremely high light intensities, and displays higher photosynthetic rates. The high homology between the two strains provides a unique opportunity to examine the factors that lead to increased photosynthetic rates. We compared the photophysiology of the two strains and determined the differences in Synechococcus 2973 that lead to increased photosynthetic rates and the concomitant increase in biomass production. In this study, we identified inefficiencies in the electron transport chain of Synechococcus 7942 that have been alleviated in Synechococcus 2973. Photosystem II (PSII) capacity is the same in both strains. However, Synechococcus 2973 exhibits a 1.6-fold increase in PSI content, a 1.5-fold increase in cytochrome b₆f content, and a 2.4-fold increase in plastocyanin content on a per cell basis. The increased content of electron carriers allows a higher flux of electrons through the photosynthetic electron transport chain, while the increased PSI content provides more oxidizing power to maintain upstream carriers ready to accept electrons. These changes serve to increase the photosynthetic efficiency of Synechococcus 2973, the fastest growing cyanobacterium known.IMPORTANCE As the global population increases, the amount of arable land continues to decrease. To prevent a looming food crisis, crop productivity per acre must increase. A promising target for improving crop productivity is increasing the photosynthetic rates in crop plants. Cyanobacteria serve as models for higher plant photosynthetic systems and are an important test bed for improvements in photosynthetic productivity. In this study, we identified key factors that lead to improved photosynthetic efficiency and increased production of biomass of a cyanobacterium. We suggest that the findings presented herein will give direction to improvements that may be made in other photosynthetic organisms to improve photosynthetic efficiency.

The Structural Basis for the Extraordinary Energy-Transfer Capabilities of the Phycobilisome

Light absorption is the initial step in the photosynthetic process. In all species, most of the light is absorbed by dedicated pigment-protein complexes called light harvesting complexes or antenna complexes. In the case of cyanobacteria and red-algae, photosynthetic organisms found in a wide variety of ecological niches, the major antenna is called the Phycobilisome (PBS). The PBS has many unique characteristics that sets it apart from the antenna complexes of other organisms (bacteria, algae and plants). These differences include the type of light absorbing chromophores, the protein environment of the chromophores, the method of assembly and association and the intercellular location with respect to the photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs). Since the final goal of all antenna complexes is the same - controlled absorption and transfer of the energy of the sun to the RCs, the unique structural and chemical differences of the PBS also require unique energy transfer mechanisms and pathways. In this review we will describe in detail the structural facets that lead to a mature PBS, followed by an attempt to understand the energy transfer properties of the PBS as they have been measured experimentally.

Dissecting the Native Architecture and Dynamics of Cyanobacterial Photosynthetic Machinery

The structural dynamics and flexibility of cell membranes play fundamental roles in the functions of the cells, i.e., signaling, energy transduction, and physiological adaptation. The cyanobacterial thylakoid membrane represents a model membrane that can conduct both oxygenic photosynthesis and respiration simultaneously. In this study, we conducted direct visualization of the global organization and mobility of photosynthetic complexes in thylakoid membranes from a model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, using high-resolution atomic force, confocal, and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. We visualized the native arrangement and dense packing of photosystem I (PSI), photosystem II (PSII), and cytochrome (Cyt) b₆f within thylakoid membranes at the molecular level. Furthermore, we functionally tagged PSI, PSII, Cyt b₆f, and ATP synthase individually with fluorescent proteins, and revealed the heterogeneous distribution of these four photosynthetic complexes and determined their dynamic features within the crowding membrane environment using live-cell fluorescence imaging. We characterized red light-induced clustering localization and adjustable diffusion of photosynthetic complexes in thylakoid membranes, representative of the reorganization of photosynthetic apparatus in response to environmental changes. Understanding the organization and dynamics of photosynthetic membranes is essential for rational design and construction of artificial photosynthetic systems to underpin bioenergy development. Knowledge of cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes could also be extended to other cell membranes, such as chloroplast and mitochondrial membranes.

Photoelectrochemistry of Photosystem II in Vitro vs in Vivo

Factors governing the photoelectrochemical output of photosynthetic microorganisms are poorly understood, and energy loss may occur due to inefficient electron transfer (ET) processes. Here, we systematically compare the photoelectrochemistry of photosystem II (PSII) protein-films to cyanobacteria biofilms to derive: (i) the losses in light-to-charge conversion efficiencies, (ii) gains in photocatalytic longevity, and (iii) insights into the ET mechanism at the biofilm interface. This study was enabled by the use of hierarchically structured electrodes, which could be tailored for high/stable loadings of PSII core complexes and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells. The mediated photocurrent densities generated by the biofilm were 2 orders of magnitude lower than those of the protein-film. This was partly attributed to a lower photocatalyst loading as the rate of mediated electron extraction from PSII in vitro is only double that of PSII in vivo. On the other hand, the biofilm exhibited much greater longevity (>5 days) than the protein-film (<6 h), with turnover numbers surpassing those of the protein-film after 2 days. The mechanism of biofilm electrogenesis is suggested to involve an intracellular redox mediator, which is released during light irradiation.

Acclimation of Oxygenic Photosynthesis to Iron Starvation Is Controlled by the sRNA IsaR1

Oxygenic photosynthesis crucially depends on proteins that possess Fe²⁺ or Fe/S complexes as co-factors or prosthetic groups. Here, we show that the small regulatory RNA (sRNA) IsaR1 (Iron-Stress-Activated RNA 1) plays a pivotal role in acclimation to low-iron conditions. The IsaR1 regulon consists of more than 15 direct targets, including Fe²⁺-containing proteins involved in photosynthetic electron transfer, detoxification of anion radicals, citrate cycle, and tetrapyrrole biogenesis. IsaR1 is essential for maintaining physiological levels of Fe/S cluster biogenesis proteins during iron deprivation. Consequently, IsaR1 affects the acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus to iron starvation at three levels: (1) directly, via posttranscriptional repression of gene expression; (2) indirectly, via suppression of pigment; and (3) Fe/S cluster biosynthesis. Homologs of IsaR1 are widely conserved throughout the cyanobacterial phylum. We conclude that IsaR1 is a critically important riboregulator. These findings provide a new perspective for understanding the regulation of iron homeostasis in photosynthetic organisms.

Is RAF1 protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 really needed in the cyanobacterial Rubisco assembly process?

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is responsible for carbon dioxide conversion during photosynthesis and, therefore, is the most important protein in biomass generation. Modifications of this biocatalyst toward improvements in its properties are hindered by the complicated and not yet fully understood assembly process required for the formation of active holoenzymes. An entire set of auxiliary factors, including chaperonin GroEL/GroES and assembly chaperones RbcX or Rubisco accumulation factor 1 (RAF1), is involved in the folding and subsequent assembly of Rubisco subunits. Recently, it has been shown that cyanobacterial RAF1 acts during the formation of the large Rubisco subunit (RbcL) dimer. However, both its physiological function and its necessity in the prokaryotic Rubisco formation process remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strain with raf1 gene disruption shows the same growth rate as wild-type cells under standard conditions. Moreover, the Rubisco biosynthesis process seems to be unperturbed in mutant cells despite the absence of RbcL-RAF1 complexes. However, in the tested environmental conditions, sulfur starvation triggers the degradation of RbcL and subsequent proteolysis of other polypeptides in wild-type but not Δraf1 strains. Pull-down experiments also indicate that, apart from Rubisco, RAF1 co-purifies with phycocyanins. We postulate that RAF1 is not an obligatory factor in cyanobacterial Rubisco assembly, but rather participates in environmentally regulated Rubisco homeostasis.

Dynamic Changes of IsiA-Containing Complexes during Long-Term Iron Deficiency in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Iron stress-induced protein A (IsiA), a major chlorophyll-binding protein in the thylakoid membrane, is significantly induced under iron deficiency conditions. Using immunoblot analysis and 77 K fluorescence spectroscopy combined with sucrose gradient fractionation, we monitored dynamic changes of IsiA-containing complexes in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 during exposure to long-term iron deficiency. Within 3 days of exposure to iron deficiency conditions, the initially induced free IsiA proteins preferentially conjugated to PS I trimer to form IsiA₁₈-PS I trimers, which serve as light energy collectors for efficiently transmitting energy to PS I. With prolonged iron deficiency, IsiA proteins assembled either into IsiA aggregates or into two other types of IsiA-PS I supercomplexes, namely IsiA-PS I high fluorescence supercomplex (IHFS) and IsiA-PS I low fluorescence supercomplex (ILFS). Further analysis revealed a role for IsiA as an energy dissipater in the IHFS and as an energy collector in the ILFS. The trimeric structure of PS I mediated by PsaL was found to be indispensable for the formation of IHFS/ILFS. Dynamic changes in IsiA-containing complexes in cyanobacteria during long-term iron deficiency may represent an adaptation to iron limitation stress for flexible light energy distribution, which balances electron transfer between PS I and PS II, thus minimizing photooxidative damage.

Pivotal Role of Iron in the Regulation of Cyanobacterial Electron Transport

Iron-containing metalloproteins are the main cornerstones for efficient electron transport in biological systems. The abundance and diversity of iron-dependent proteins in cyanobacteria makes those organisms highly dependent of this micronutrient. To cope with iron imbalance, cyanobacteria have developed a survey of adaptation strategies that are strongly related to the regulation of photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and other central electron transfer pathways. Furthermore, either in its ferrous form or as a component of the haem group, iron plays a crucial role as regulatory signalling molecule that directly or indirectly modulates the composition and efficiency of cyanobacterial redox reactions. We present here the major mechanism used by cyanobacteria to couple iron homeostasis to the regulation of electron transport, making special emphasis in processes specific in those organisms.

Iron-Nutrient Interactions within Phytoplankton

Iron limits photosynthetic activity in up to one third of the world's oceans and in many fresh water environments. When studying the effects of Fe limitation on phytoplankton or their adaptation to low Fe environments, we must take into account the numerous cellular processes within which this micronutrient plays a central role. Due to its flexible redox chemistry, Fe is indispensable in enzymatic catalysis and electron transfer reactions and is therefore closely linked to the acquisition, assimilation and utilization of essential resources. Iron limitation will therefore influence a wide range of metabolic pathways within phytoplankton, most prominently photosynthesis. In this review, we map out four well-studied interactions between Fe and essential resources: nitrogen, manganese, copper and light. Data was compiled from both field and laboratory studies to shed light on larger scale questions such as the connection between metabolic pathways and ambient iron levels and the biogeographical distribution of phytoplankton species.

Quantifying Integrated Proteomic Responses to Iron Stress in the Globally Important Marine Diazotroph Trichodesmium

Trichodesmium is a biogeochemically important marine cyanobacterium, responsible for a significant proportion of the annual 'new' nitrogen introduced into the global ocean. These non-heterocystous filamentous diazotrophs employ a potentially unique strategy of near-concurrent nitrogen fixation and oxygenic photosynthesis, potentially burdening Trichodesmium with a particularly high iron requirement due to the iron-binding proteins involved in these processes. Iron availability may therefore have a significant influence on the biogeography of Trichodesmium. Previous investigations of molecular responses to iron stress in this keystone marine microbe have largely been targeted. Here a holistic approach was taken using a label-free quantitative proteomics technique (MSE) to reveal a sophisticated multi-faceted proteomic response of Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101 to iron stress. Increased abundances of proteins known to be involved in acclimation to iron stress and proteins known or predicted to be involved in iron uptake were observed, alongside decreases in the abundances of iron-binding proteins involved in photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Preferential loss of proteins with a high iron content contributed to overall reductions of 55-60% in estimated proteomic iron requirements. Changes in the abundances of iron-binding proteins also suggested the potential importance of alternate photosynthetic pathways as Trichodesmium reallocates the limiting resource under iron stress. Trichodesmium therefore displays a significant and integrated proteomic response to iron availability that likely contributes to the ecological success of this species in the ocean.

Microalgae on display: a microfluidic pixel-based irradiance assay for photosynthetic growth

Microalgal biofuel is an emerging sustainable energy resource. Photosynthetic growth is heavily dependent on irradiance, therefore photobioreactor design optimization requires comprehensive screening of irradiance variables, such as intensity, time variance and spectral composition. Here we present a microfluidic irradiance assay which leverages liquid crystal display technology to provide multiplexed screening of irradiance conditions on growth. An array of 238 microreactors are operated in parallel with identical chemical environments. The approach is demonstrated by performing three irradiance assays. The first assay evaluates the effect of intensity on growth, quantifying saturating intensity. The second assay quantifies the influence of time-varied intensity and the threshold frequency for growth. Lastly, the coupled influence of red-blue spectral composition and intensity is assessed. Each multiplexed assay is completed within three days. In contrast, completing the same number of experiments using conventional incubation flasks would require several years. Not only does our approach enable more rapid screening, but the short optical path avoids self-shading issues inherent to flask based systems.

Interacting Effects of Light and Iron Availability on the Coupling of Photosynthetic Electron Transport and CO2-Assimilation in Marine Phytoplankton

Iron availability directly affects photosynthesis and limits phytoplankton growth over vast oceanic regions. For this reason, the availability of iron is a crucial variable to consider in the development of active chlorophyll a fluorescence based estimates of phytoplankton primary productivity. These bio-optical approaches require a conversion factor to derive ecologically-relevant rates of CO₂-assimilation from estimates of electron transport in photosystem II. The required conversion factor varies significantly across phytoplankton taxa and environmental conditions, but little information is available on its response to iron limitation. In this study, we examine the role of iron limitation, and the interacting effects of iron and light availability, on the coupling of photosynthetic electron transport and CO₂-assimilation in marine phytoplankton. Our results show that excess irradiance causes increased decoupling of carbon fixation and electron transport, particularly under iron limiting conditions. We observed that reaction center II specific rates of electron transport (ETR_RCII, mol e- mol RCII^-1 s^-1) increased under iron limitation, and we propose a simple conceptual model for this observation. We also observed a strong correlation between the derived conversion factor and the expression of non-photochemical quenching. Utilizing a dataset from in situ phytoplankton assemblages across a coastal – oceanic transect in the Northeast subarctic Pacific, this relationship was used to predict ETR_RCII: CO₂-assimilation conversion factors and carbon-based primary productivity from FRRF data, without the need for any additional measurements.

The RUBISCO to Photosystem II Ratio Limits the Maximum Photosynthetic Rate in Picocyanobacteria

Marine Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus are picocyanobacteria predominating in subtropical, oligotrophic marine environments, a niche predicted to expand with climate change. When grown under common low light conditions Synechococcus WH 8102 and Prochlorococcus MED 4 show similar Cytochrome b₆f and Photosystem I contents normalized to Photosystem II content, while Prochlorococcus MIT 9313 has twice the Cytochrome b₆f content and four times the Photosystem I content of the other strains. Interestingly, the Prochlorococcus strains contain only one third to one half of the RUBISCO catalytic subunits compared to the marine Synechococcus strain. The maximum Photosystem II electron transport rates were similar for the two Prochlorococcus strains but higher for the marine Synechococcus strain. Photosystem II electron transport capacity is highly correlated to the molar ratio of RUBISCO active sites to Photosystem II but not to the ratio of cytochrome b₆f to Photosystem II, nor to the ratio of Photosystem I: Photosystem II. Thus, the catalytic capacity for the rate-limiting step of carbon fixation, the ultimate electron sink, appears to limit electron transport rates. The high abundance of Cytochrome b₆f and Photosystem I in MIT 9313, combined with the slower flow of electrons away from Photosystem II and the relatively low level of RUBISCO, are consistent with cyclic electron flow around Photosystem I in this strain.

Phytoplankton strategies for photosynthetic energy allocation

Phytoplankton physiology is dynamic and highly responsive to the environment. Phytoplankton acclimate to changing environmental conditions by a complex reallocation of carbon and energy through metabolic pathways to optimize growth. Considering the tremendous diversity of phytoplankton, it is not surprising that different phytoplankton taxa use different strategies to partition carbon and energy resources. It has therefore been satisfying to discover that general principles of energetic stoichiometry appear to govern these complex processes and can be broadly applied to interpret phytoplankton distributions, productivity, and food web dynamics. The expectation of future changes in aquatic environments brought on by climate change warrants gathering knowledge about underlying patterns of photosynthetic energy allocation and their impacts on community structure and ecosystem productivity.

PfsR is a key regulator of iron homeostasis in Synechocystis PCC 6803

Iron is an essential cofactor in numerous cellular processes. The iron deficiency in the oceans affects the primary productivity of phytoplankton including cyanobacteria. In this study, we examined the function of PfsR, a TetR family transcriptional regulator, in iron homeostasis of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. Compared with the wild type, the pfsR deletion mutant displayed stronger tolerance to iron limitation and accumulated significantly more chlorophyll a, carotenoid, and phycocyanin under iron-limiting conditions. The mutant also maintained more photosystem I and photosystem II complexes than the wild type after iron deprivation. In addition, the activities of photosystem I and photosystem II were much higher in pfsR deletion mutant than in wild-type cells under iron-limiting conditions. The transcripts of pfsR were enhanced by iron limitation and inactivation of the gene affected pronouncedly expression of fut genes (encoding a ferric iron transporter), feoB (encoding a ferrous iron transporter), bfr genes (encoding bacterioferritins), ho genes (encoding heme oxygenases), isiA (encoding a chlorophyll-binding protein), and furA (encoding a ferric uptake regulator). The iron quota in pfsR deletion mutant cells was higher than in wild-type cells both before and after exposure to iron limitation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that PfsR bound to its own promoter and thereby auto-regulated its own expression. These data suggest that PfsR is a critical regulator of iron homeostasis.

Responses to iron limitation are impacted by light quality and regulated by RcaE in the chromatically acclimating cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon

Photosynthetic organisms adapt to environmental fluctuations of light and nutrient availability. Iron is critical for photosynthetic organismal growth, as many cellular processes depend upon iron cofactors. Whereas low iron levels can have deleterious effects, excess iron can lead to damage, as iron is a reactive metal that can result in the production of damaging radicals. Therefore, organisms regulate cellular iron levels to maintain optimal iron homeostasis. In particular, iron is an essential factor for the function of photosystems associated with photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes. Photosynthetic organisms, including cyanobacteria, generally respond to iron deficiency by reduced growth, degradation of non-essential proteins and in some cases alterations of cellular morphology. In response to fluctuations in ambient light quality, the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon undergoes complementary chromatic adaptation (CCA). During CCA, phycobiliprotein composition of light-harvesting antennae is altered in response to green light (GL) and red light (RL) for efficient utilization of light energy for photosynthesis. We observed light-regulated responses to iron limitation in F. diplosiphon. RL-grown cells exhibited significant reductions in growth and pigment levels, and alterations in iron-associated proteins, which impact the accumulation of reactive oxygen species under iron-limiting conditions, whereas GL-grown cells exhibited partial resistance to iron limitation. We investigated the roles of known CCA regulators RcaE, RcaF and RcaC in this light-dependent iron-acclimation response. Through comparative analyses of wild-type and CCA mutant strains, we determined that photoreceptor RcaE has a central role in light-induced oxidative stress associated with iron limitation, and impacts light-regulated iron-acclimation responses, physiologically and morphologically.