Alternative pathways for phosphonate metabolism in thermophilic cyanobacteria from microbial mats.

ABSTRACT: Synechococcus sp. represents an ecologically diverse group of cyanobacteria found in numerous environments, including hot-spring microbial mats, where they are spatially distributed along thermal, light and oxygen gradients. These thermophiles engage in photosynthesis and aerobic respiration during the day, but switch to fermentative metabolism and nitrogen fixation at night. The genome of Synechococcus OS-B', isolated from Octopus Spring (Yellowstone National Park) contains a phn gene cluster encoding a phosphonate (Phn) transporter and a C-P lyase. A closely related isolate, Synechococcus OS-A, lacks this cluster, but contains genes encoding putative phosphonatases (Phnases) that appear to be active only in the presence of the Phn substrate. Both isolates grow well on several different P

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Garcia MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3105666 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature