A new study from the Michigan State University DOE Plant Research Laboratory brings fresh insight on the source/sink balance of cyanobacteria and paves the way for further advancements in photosynthetic microbes for potential applications.
The research, conducted in the lab of MSU biochemist Danny Ducat, was recently published in Plant Physiology.
In photosynthesis, source/sink balance refers to how the organism equalizes the light it absorbs — the source — with its capacity to use this energy — the sink. This balance is well-studied in plants, but research on it in photosynthetic microbes remains underdeveloped. This study sheds new light on source/sink regulation in cyanobacteria.
“We started this study with a big question: How do photosynthetic microbes balance source/sink?” said Amit K. Singh, a postdoc in the lab and lead author of the study. “As metabolic engineers, it is even more important to know the regulatory process involved in balancing mechanisms. For example, when we engineer in pathways for production of biofuels or other bioproducts, we think those new energy needs can throw source/sink out of balance. Hence, the findings of this study will help us in fine tuning the cellular metabolism toward improved production of bio-based materials.”
Using a genetically modified cyanobacterium developed in the lab, the researchers tested the impact of influx and efflux of sugar, specifically sucrose, on the physiology and biochemistry of cyanobacterium.
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