High-density CRISPRi screens reveal diverse routes to improved acclimation in cyanobacteria.

ABSTRACT: Cyanobacteria are the oldest form of photosynthetic life on Earth and contribute to primary production in nearly every habitat, from permafrost to hot springs. Despite longstanding interest in the acclimation of these microbes, it remains poorly understood and challenging to rewire. This study uses a high-density, genome-wide CRISPR interference screen to examine the influence of gene-specific transcriptional variation on the growth of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 under environmental extremes. Surprisingly, many partial knockdowns enhanced fitness under cold monochromatic conditions. Transcriptional repression of genes for core subunits of the NDH-1 complex, which are important for photosynthesis and carbon uptake, improved growth rates under both red and blue light but at distinct, c

SUBMITTER: Hren A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962424 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature