The circadian clock and darkness control natural competence in cyanobacteria

Arnaud Taton, Christian Erikson, Yiling Yang, Benjamin E. Rubin, Scott A. Rifkin, James W. Golden and Susan S. Golden ()
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Arnaud Taton: University of California, San Diego
Christian Erikson: University of California, San Diego
Yiling Yang: University of California, San Diego
Benjamin E. Rubin: University of California, San Diego
Scott A. Rifkin: University of California, San Diego
James W. Golden: University of California, San Diego
Susan S. Golden: University of California, San Diego

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is a model organism for the study of circadian rhythms. It is naturally competent for transformation—that is, it takes up DNA from the environment, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we use a genome-wide screen to identify genes required for natural transformation in S. elongatus, including genes encoding a conserved Type IV pilus, genes known to be associated with competence in other bacteria, and others. Pilus biogenesis occurs daily in the morning, while natural transformation is maximal when the onset of darkness coincides with the dusk circadian peak. Thus, the competence state in cyanobacteria is regulated by the circadian clock and can adapt to seasonal changes of day length.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15384-9

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15384-9

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