biostudies-literatureDann MEuropean Research Council681-695https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7612648biostudies-literatureUnknown7(5)Photosynthesis is readily impaired by high light (HL) levels. Photosynthetic organisms have therefore evolved various mechanisms to cope with the problem. Here, we have dramatically enhanced the light tolerance of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis by adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). By combining repeated mutagenesis and exposure to increasing light intensities, we generated strains that grow under extremely HL intensities. HL tolerance was associated with more than 100 mutations in proteins involved in various cellular functions, including gene expression, photosynthesis and metabolism. Co-evolved mutations were grouped into five haplotypes, and putative epistatic interactions were identified. Two representative mutations, introduced into non-adapted cells, each confer enhanced HL tolerNature plantsEnhancing photosynthesis at high light levels by adaptive laboratory evolution.PMC7612648854126Ortiz EMThomas MGuljamow ALeister DLehmann MSchaefer HDann MfalseEnhancing photosynthesis at high light levels by adaptive laboratory evolution.Photosynthesis is readily impaired by high light (HL) levels. Photosynthetic organisms have therefore evolved various mechanisms to cope with the problem. Here, we have dramatically enhanced the light tolerance of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis by adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). By combining repeated mutagenesis and exposure to increasing light intensities, we generated strains that grow under extremely HL intensities. HL tolerance was associated with more than 100 mutations in proteins involved in various cellular functions, including gene expression, photosynthesis and metabolism. Co-evolved mutations were grouped into five haplotypes, and putative epistatic interactions were identified. Two representative mutations, introduced into non-adapted cells, each confer enhanced HL toler2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 May2026-05-31T02:09:18.172Z2025-04-04T23:04:07.649ZS-EPMC76126483394190810.1038/s41477-021-00904-2