Global Analysis of Acclimation Processes in Cyanobacteria

该项目代表了将全球技术应用于蓝藻特定驯化过程分析的重大努力。这将使识别在许多不同环境条件下控制的基因成为可能，并阐明将细胞对不同环境信号的反应联系起来的控制网络。具体地说，微阵列分析被用来识别聚球藻PCC6803在高光和氮素限制下驯化过程中变得活跃的基因。全基因组芯片现已问世。这些分析将提供有关光和代谢过程中可能的氧化还原控制的线索。也有可能确定与高光和营养限制反应相关的调节元件，因为原核生物中调节基因的转录通常受调节因子敏感的环境条件的控制。微阵列技术将被用来分析一个调控突变体dspA，该突变体已被证明在聚球藻PCC6803的许多强光调控基因的控制下发生了变化；dspA蛋白似乎参与了细胞对强光的适应。在这项初步研究中产生的信息将被用于利用微阵列来剖析蓝藻的全球调控。

This project represents a major effort to apply global technologies to the analyses of specific acclimation processes in cyanobacteria. It would make it possible to identify genes that are controlled under a number of different environmental conditions and elucidate networks of control that link the responses of the cell to diverse environmental signals. Specifically microarray analyses is being used to identify genes that become active during acclimation of Synechocystis PCC6803 to high light and nitrogen limitation. A whole genome chip is available. These analyses will provide clues concerning light and possibly redox control of metabolic processes. It may also be possible to identify the regulatory elements associated with high light and nutrient limitation responses since the transcription of regulatory genes in prokaryotes is often controlled by the environmental condition to which the regulator is sensitive. Microarray technology will be used to analyze one regulatory mutant, dspA, that has been shown to be altered in control of many high light regulated genes in Synechocystis PCC6803; the DspA protein appears to be involved in acclimation of the cells to high light. The information generated in this initial study will be used to exploit microarrays to dissect global regulation in cyanobacteria.