cyanobacteria Archives

Divergence time and Marine silicon concentration for phytoplankton that may contain SITs-like or SITs -like proteins: Decimals near ancestral nodes indicate posterior probabilities. Solid red dots represent fossil calibration points, gray bar represents 95% confidence intervals, and solid black dots represent estimated divergence time by molecular clocks. 95% confidence intervals are shown here for only some nodes, Some solid points are not digitally labeled when their posterior probability is less than 0.5. Different colors in the background represent different geological periods. The diagram shows the representation of each class group. The graph below shows DSI concentrations of different geological ages, modified from Conley et al. (2017) and Siever (1991). -- biorxiv.org

Silicification of Cyanobacteria

by Keith CowingMay 27, 2024May 27, 2024

The ability to use dissolved silicon has been found in various oceanic phytoplankton, including eukaryotic diatoms and prokaryotic cyanobacteria.

A light microscopy image shows the marine haptophyte algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii with a black arrow pointing to the nitroplast organelle. (Photo credit: Tyler Coale)

Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

The First Known Nitrogen-fixing Organelle

by Keith CowingApril 12, 2024April 12, 2024

Modern biology textbooks assert that only bacteria can take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into a form that is usable for life. Plants that fix nitrogen, such as […]

Linear volumetric scaling in the B. bigelowii/UCYN-A symbiosis -- (A) Light microscopy image of the haptophyte B. bigelowii in symbiosis with UCYN-A (scale bar, 2 μm; image courtesy of Wing Kwan Esther Mak and Kyoko Hagino). (B) Upper panel: UCYN-A volume (sublineages UCYN-A1, -A2, and -A3; see inset) as a function of associated haptophyte cell volume; lower panel: chloroplast volume as a function of associated haptophyte cell volume; inset in lower panel: UCYN-A volume vs. chloroplast volume of associated host cells. (C) Composite of catalized reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) images showing the range of sizes of the different UCYN-A sublineages (left images: UCYN-A1 sublineage; middle images: UCYN-3 sublineage; right images: UCYN-A2 sublineage) and their symbiotic haptophyte partners. Images were taken under blue (green-labeled haptophytes with Alexa 488 stain) and green (red-labeled UCYN-A with Alexa 594 stain) excitation wavelengths (STAR Methods) (scale bar, 5 μm). -- Cell

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Evolution In Action? New Study Finds Possibility Of Nitrogen-fixing Organelles

by Keith CowingApril 4, 2024April 4, 2024

Nitrogen is a nutrient essential for all life on Earth. Although nitrogen gas (N2) is plentiful, it is largely unavailable to most organisms without a process known as nitrogen fixation, […]

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Sequencing Platform

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Genomics Tricorder Tech: De novo Genome Sequencing And Annotation Of A Thermophilic Cyanobacterium Using The Oxford Nanopore Technologies Sequencing Platform

by Keith CowingApril 3, 2024January 4, 2025

Editor’s note: Oxford Nanopore technology has been used multiple times on the International Space Station (see Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics) to try and help elucidate changes in genomic function during exposure […]

Schematic representation of oxygenic photosynthesis and the generation of superoxide during the day inside a Cyanobacterial cell. The thylakoid membrane contains Photosystem II (PSII) connected to phycobilisomes, Photosystem I (PSI), cytochrome b6f (cyt b6f), and electron transporters plastoquinone (PQ) and plastocyanin (PC). Phycobilisomes capture light energy and transfer it to PSII resulting in the hydrolysis of water and transfer of electrons to PQ, with the concomitant generation of molecular oxygen (O2) and protons (H+ ). PQ then transfers the electrons to PSI via cyt b6f and PC, thereby translocating two protons (2H+ ) across the thylakoid membrane, into the lumen. The resulting proton gradient powers the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via ATP synthase. PSI transfers electrons to ferredoxin (Fd), that in turn transfers electrons to ferredoxin NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR) to generate reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Both NADPH and ATP are used to power cellular processes, such as CO2 fixation (Mullineaux, 2014). Increased light exposure may result in excess electrons being fed into the electron transport chain, resulting in the generation of superoxide (O2 •– ) (Latifi et al., 2009). Dismutation of O2 •– to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) potentially occurs in different species via superoxide dimutases (SODs), in the cytoplasm, thylakoid lumen or periplasmic space (Herbert et al., 1992; Li et al., 2002; Napoli et al., 2021; Raghavan et al., 2013; Raghavan et al., 2015). Image generated in Biorender ©. -- biorxiv.org

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Early-branching Cyanobacteria Up-regulate Superoxide Dismutase Activity Under A Simulated Early Earth Anoxic Atmosphere

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2024

The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis during the Archean (4-2.5 Ga), required the presence of complementary reducing pathways to maintain the cellular redox balance.

Life Support Systems, Mars, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Space Agriculture, Status Report

Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars

by Keith CowingFebruary 29, 2024

The cultivation of cyanobacteria by exploiting available in situ resources represents a possible way to supply food and oxygen to astronauts during long-term crewed missions on Mars.

High latitude benthic microbial mat in Skarvsnes, East Antarctica. (Photo: S Kudoh)

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

DNA Reveals That Unique Microorganisms Evolved At Earth’s Poles

by Keith CowingFebruary 15, 2024February 15, 2024

Communities of microorganisms at the bottom of polar lakes evolved independently from other regions, influenced by the particular geological, biological and climate history of their regions. The unique character of […]

TEM image of Prochlorococcus marinus with overlay green coloring. A globally significant marine cyanobacterium. Luke Thompson from Chisholm Lab and Nikki Watson from Whitehead, MIT -- Wikipedia

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Emergence Of Prochlorococcus In The Tonian Oceans And The Initiation Of Neoproterozoic Oxygenation

by Keith CowingFebruary 12, 2024February 11, 2024

Prochlorococcus are the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth, contributing up to 50% of the chlorophyll in the oligotrophic oceans.

TL photomicrograph of a five-celled filament with constant width and dark narrow transverse bands. -- Science Advances

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

North China Fossils Show Eukaryotes First Acquired Multicellularity 1.63 Billion Years Ago

by Keith CowingJanuary 25, 2024January 24, 2024

In a study published in Science Advances on Jan. 24, researchers led by Prof. ZHU Maoyan from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences […]

Image of Navifusa majensis, a microfossil from the McDermott Formation in Australia. This 1.75 billion-year-old microfossil contains thylakoids, which identify it as a cyanobacterium. CREDIT Emmanuelle Javaux

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release, Space Life Science

The Evolution Of Photosynthesis Documented By Thylakoids In Fossil Cyanobacteria

by Keith CowingJanuary 6, 2024January 6, 2024

Researchers at the University of Liège (ULiège) have identified microstructures in fossil cells that are 1.75 billion years old.

cyanobacteria

Silicification of Cyanobacteria

The First Known Nitrogen-fixing Organelle

Evolution In Action? New Study Finds Possibility Of Nitrogen-fixing Organelles

Genomics Tricorder Tech: De novo Genome Sequencing And Annotation Of A Thermophilic Cyanobacterium Using The Oxford Nanopore Technologies Sequencing Platform

Early-branching Cyanobacteria Up-regulate Superoxide Dismutase Activity Under A Simulated Early Earth Anoxic Atmosphere

Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars

DNA Reveals That Unique Microorganisms Evolved At Earth’s Poles

Emergence Of Prochlorococcus In The Tonian Oceans And The Initiation Of Neoproterozoic Oxygenation

North China Fossils Show Eukaryotes First Acquired Multicellularity 1.63 Billion Years Ago

The Evolution Of Photosynthesis Documented By Thylakoids In Fossil Cyanobacteria

On The Foundations Of Anthropic Reasoning: Implications For Life Across The Universe

NASA Curation Community Conversation Webinar

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Surface Interactions on Mars (ACSIOM) Workshop 2025

An ALMA View On Molecular Complexity: Water, Methanol, And Methyl Formate In The HD 100546 And IRS 48 Disks

The Occurrence of Circumbinary Planets Around TESS M-dwarf Eclipsing Binaries