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Title: Survival Strategies in the Aquatic and Terrestrial World: The Impact of Second Messengers on Cyanobacterial Processes

Journal Article · · Life
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/life4040745· OSTI ID:1602537
 [1];  [2]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program; Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Dept. of Energy Plant Research Laboratory
  2. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program; Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Second messengers are intracellular substances regulated by specific external stimuli globally known as first messengers. Cells rely on second messengers to generate rapid responses to environmental changes and the importance of their roles is becoming increasingly realized in cellular signaling research. Cyanobacteria are photooxygenic bacteria that inhabit most of Earth’s environments. The ability of cyanobacteria to survive in ecologically diverse habitats is due to their capacity to adapt and respond to environmental changes. This article reviews known second messenger-controlled physiological processes in cyanobacteria. Second messengers used in these systems include the element calcium (Ca2+), nucleotide-based guanosine tetraphosphate or pentaphosphate (ppGpp or pppGpp, represented as (p)ppGpp), cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), cyclic guanosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cGMP), and cyclic dimeric AMP (c-di-AMP), and the gaseous nitric oxide (NO). The discussion focuses on processes central to cyanobacteria, such as nitrogen fixation, light perception, photosynthesis-related processes, and gliding motility. In addition, we address future research trajectories needed to better understand the signaling networks and cross talk in the signaling pathways of these molecules in cyanobacteria. Second messengers have significant potential to be adapted as technological tools and we highlight possible novel and practical applications based on our understanding of these molecules and the signaling networks that they control.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-91ER20021
OSTI ID:
1602537
Journal Information:
Life, Vol. 4, Issue 4; ISSN 2075-1729
Publisher:
MDPICopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (7)

Regulation of biofilm formation and cellular buoyancy through modulating intracellular cyclic di-GMP levels in engineered cyanobacteria: Engineering c-di-GMP Levels in Cyanobacteria journal October 2015
Tlr1612 is the major repressor of cell aggregation in the light-color-dependent c-di-GMP signaling network of Thermosynechococcus vulcanus journal March 2018
High-throughput interaction screens illuminate the role of c-di-AMP in cyanobacterial nighttime survival journal April 2018
Homeostasis of Second Messenger Cyclic-di-AMP Is Critical for Cyanobacterial Fitness and Acclimation to Abiotic Stress journal May 2018
A novel Ca 2+ -binding protein influences photosynthetic electron transport in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 posted_content March 2019
Modulation of Type IV pili phenotypic plasticity through a novel Chaperone-Usher system in Synechocystis sp. journal January 2017
Comparative genomics analysis of c-di-GMP metabolism and regulation in Microcystis aeruginosa journal March 2020

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