RNA helicases: linking genomics and proteomics with the physiology of cellular response to changing environmental conditions.

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Funds are requested to support a research program designed to determine the mechanisms by which photosynthetic bacteria sense and respond to the environmental variables light and temperature. Our model system is cyanobacteria, commonly known as pond scum, which are major players in the global ecosystem, removing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with the concomitant release of oxygen. They are also becoming a significant problem worldwide as they produce toxins that severely compromise water quality for both domestic and recreational use. It is therefore imperative that we understand the mechanisms by which these organisms sense and respond to environmental signals in order to maximize their positive and minimize their negative attributes.