Cyanobacteria – BioQuakes

Many kinds of bacteria have the capacity to radically alter their metabolism in order to switch into a dormant state. This allows them to survive without any possibility of growth. One reason this might be advantageous to bacteria is if their microbes do not have a substantial amount of food. The cells’ revival process follows a strict genetic timetable. This is an important survival strategy.

One of the oldest types of bacteria are cyanobacteria – going back more than 3 billion years. Their activity released oxygen into the atmosphere, therefore enabling life on earth in its current state. When nitrogen, one of their major nutrients, is lacking, these cyanobacteria cease their growth and enter a dormant state. They dismantle their photosynthesis apparatus and lose their color. This allows them to survive long periods without requiring nutrients. If they become exposed to an accessible supply of nitrogen, they return to normal life within 48 hours. It is intriguing because the cells appear dead and then out of nowhere they return back to normal.

Diagram of Cyanobacteria

Through various experiments it was found that the cell revival process began almost immediately once nitrate was added. This is a highly organized process.

Phase One: Bacteria suppress all remaining photosynthesis activity and tap into reserves to obtain energy quickly

At First: Intake and processing of nitrogen. The production of protein synthesizing mechanisms are activated.

12-16 Hours Later: Photosynthesis begins

48 Hours Later: Full capacity reached. Cells begin to grow and divide again

There are copies of DNA that are not translated into proteins found in sections of uncoded RNA. These are important switches in the awakening process. This genetically coded program allows cyanobacteria to colonize environments where the nitrogen supply is inconstant. It also allows them to survive environmental stress and survive over three billion years of evolution. This is not the only bacteria that is capable of this phenomena. This can help scientists better control the spread of dangerous bacteria.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161006124409.htm

Other Resources (For More Information on This Topic):

http://phys.org/news/2012-02-bacteria-dead.html

Understanding how bacteria come back from the dead

Now if you’re like me, you have been expressing some concern as to where we are going to get energy in the upcoming years. The increasing price of oil and the inefficiencies of solar power definitely cause some reason to worry. Lucky f0r us, a new development at the University of California, Davis, might just solve all of our problems.

Shota Atsumi and his team at UC Davis made ground breaking research in Cyanobacteria that could lead to a solution to our energy problems. This Blue-Green bacteria uses sunlight and carbon dioxide to create 2, 3 butanediol, which is a chemical that can be used to create paint, solvents, plastics and even fuel. The Scientists identified the enzymes that carried out the reactions that they wanted, and “introduced the DNA for these enzymes into the cells.” While the experiment was deemed unpredictable at first because they were unsure how enzymes would work in different organisms, the end result was that the Cyanobacteria yielded 2.4 grams of 2, 3 butanediol per liter of growth medium. This is a groundbreaking experiment because these scientists may have possibly taken the first steps to solving our energy crisis. Imagine, we may be able create fuel and other resources by simply using the power of the Sun!

What do you guys think about this? Comment below.

BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Tag: Cyanobacteria

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