How do cyanobacteria sense and respond to light?

Mullineaux, CW

Cw. Mullineaux, How do cyanobacteria sense and respond to light?, MOL MICROB, 41(5), 2001, pp. 965-971

42

INGLESE

Review

Microbiology

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY

0950-382X → ACNP

41

5

2001

965 - 971

ISI

0950-382X(200109)41:5<965:HDCSAR>2.0.ZU;2-M

Cyanobacteria exhibit numerous responses to changes in the intensity and sp ectral quality of light. What sensors do cyanobacteria use to detect light and what are the mechanisms of signal transduction? The publication in 1996 of the complete genome sequence of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 p rovided a tremendous stimulus for research in this field, and many light-se nsors and signal transducers have now been identified. However, our knowled ge of cyanobacterial light-signal transduction remains fragmentary. This re view summarizes what we know about the ways in which cyanobacteria perceive light, some of the ways which they respond to light signals and some recen t achievements in elucidating the signal transduction mechanisms. Some prob lems in characterizing cyanobacterial signal transduction pathways are outl ined and alternative experimental strategies are discussed.