Early-Branching Cyanobacteria Grow Faster and Upregulate Superoxide Dismutase Activity Under a Simulated Early Earth Anoxic Atmosphere.

ABSTRACT: The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis during the Archean (4-2.5 Ga) required the presence of complementary reducing pathways to maintain the cellular redox balance. While the timing of the evolution of superoxide dismutases (SODs), enzymes that convert superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and O₂, within bacteria and archaea is not resolved, the first SODs appearing in cyanobacteria contained copper and zinc in the reaction center (CuZnSOD). Here, we analyse growth characteristics, SOD gene expression (qRT-PCR) and cellular enzyme activity in the deep branching strain, Pseudanabaena sp. PCC7367, previously demonstrated to release significantly more O₂ under anoxic conditions. The observed significantly higher growth rates (p < 0.001) and protein and glycogen contents (p

SUBMITTER: Tamanna SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11636452 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature