Diversity and evolution of phycobilisomes in marine Synechococcus spp.: a comparative genomics study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Marine Synechococcus owe their specific vivid color (ranging from blue-green to orange) to their large extrinsic antenna complexes called phycobilisomes, comprising a central allophycocyanin core and rods of variable phycobiliprotein composition. Three major pigment types can be defined depending on the major phycobiliprotein found in the rods (phycocyanin, phycoerythrin I or phycoerythrin II). Among strains containing both phycoerythrins I and II, four subtypes can be distinguished based on the ratio of the two chromophores bound to these phycobiliproteins. Genomes of eleven marine Synechococcus strains recently became available with one to four strains per pigment type or subtype, allowing an unprecedented comparative genomics study of genes involved in phycobilisome m

SUBMITTER: Six C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2246261 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature