Articles tagged with Cyanobacteria
A recent study found that gypsum can support microbial life even in the most extreme environments. This discovery has significant implications for understanding potential biosignatures on Mars, which could help scientists identify signs of past or present life on the Red Planet.
Researchers discovered a 'genome size–ecological function' differentiation pattern among cyanobacteria, identifying smaller genomes as 'streamlined types' that dominate in phosphorus-deficient environments and rarely produce toxins. This study proposes using a genome size threshold to initiate preventive measures before blooms occur.
Researchers found that filamentous cyanobacteria regulate their metabolism during the day and genome repair at night, revealing a new circadian rhythm in these microorganisms. Their study also uncovered diversity-generating retroelements and mobile genetic elements active throughout the day-night cycle.
A long-term analysis of Detroit Reservoir shows a regime shift in 2018, switching from cylindrospermopsin to microcystin as the dominant toxin-producing strain. This change was caused by accumulations of previously identified Dolichospermum strains, providing early warning tools for downstream water utilities.
Researchers used single particle spectroscopy to study how cyanobacteria protect themselves from too much sunlight. They found that a shared mechanism, called the orange carotenoid protein, binds to distinct but specific sites in different phycobilisome architectures, providing similar protection.
A new international study reveals that nitrogen fixation occurs beneath Arctic sea ice, increasing available nitrogen for algae and potentially boosting marine life. This discovery could also impact carbon absorption in the Arctic Ocean.
Researchers propose a new model for Earth's oxygenation, finding that high nickel and urea concentrations kept cyanobacterial blooms rare. As these compounds became available at lower levels, they drove the expansion of cyanobacteria, leading to long-term oxygen release and the Great Oxidation Event.
Prochlorococcus, a cyanobacteria and photosynthesizing organism, is threatened by ocean warming. The microbe's optimal temperature range is between 66 and 86 degrees, but rising temperatures may lead to reduced productivity and impact the marine food web.
Researchers studied a microscopic alliance between algae and cyanobacteria to understand how bacteria lose genes and adapt to increasing host dependence. The study found that the level of integration between the symbionts affects genome size, gene content, and metabolic pathways.
A research team has found that unicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-B plays a crucial role in marine nitrogen (N2) fixation, contributing 5.2-7.2 Tg N yr-1 of N2 fixation in the western North Pacific and 10.8-15.0 Tg N yr-1 globally, about 20% of global oceanic N2 fixation flux.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new method for creating engineered living materials, enabling the use of a wider variety of polymers that were previously toxic to live cells. This breakthrough allows for the creation of sustainable materials powered by sunlight and living microbes.
Researchers identified genetic changes in cyanobacteria that help them survive extreme conditions, paving the way for engineered microbes to produce renewable chemicals and materials. The study's findings suggest making small gene adjustments can yield large improvements in fitness, offering insights into environmental resilience.
Researchers have found new organisms that can capture carbon dioxide and clean pollutants from the environment. By exploring extremophiles in homes, scientists can gain insights into their unique characteristics and develop sustainable solutions.
A new study maps the daily movement of cyanobacteria in Florida's largest freshwater lake, revealing how these harmful algal blooms form and behave. The research provides critical insights into managing the risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms.
Circadian clocks demonstrate advanced noise-filtering capabilities, adapting to environmental fluctuations while maintaining accuracy. The study highlights the remarkable ability of biological clocks to selectively filter meaningful environmental cues.
Researchers created a timeline for bacterial evolution and oxygen adaptation using genomic data, fossils, and Earth's geochemical history. Their findings suggest that some bacteria could use trace oxygen long before evolving photosynthesis.
Research suggests the Earth's oceans were green 2.4 billion years ago due to iron precipitation, leading to a new understanding of ancient photosynthetic organisms and their potential for life beyond Earth. The discovery could aid in the search for extraterrestrial life by identifying green oceans as a possible indicator.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a genetic twist in cyanobacteria, allowing them to produce two forms of the enzyme RuBisCo, which could enhance carbon storage. This adaptation may play a crucial role in ocean carbon sequestration and has potential implications for more efficient crop production.
Researchers found that cyanobacteria use variations in pulse amplitude to convey information in single cells, regulating genes and controlling cellular processes. This discovery sheds light on how biological rhythms work together to coordinate cellular functions.
Researchers discovered saclipins, a natural substance from the cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum, which enhance collagen production and support skin whitening. The study found that saclipins inhibit elastase, promote collagen and hyaluronic acid production, and suppress melanin production, indicating potential benefits for skincare.
Scientists discovered that cyanobacteria align along inner edges of illuminated surfaces to create stable structures. This collective behavior arises from individual filament movement, enabling the formation of complex structures and curves.
Researchers have found that water fern Azolla does not contain cyanotoxins, which could pose a threat to human health. The plant's symbiotic relationship with Nostoc azollae reduces toxin production, making it a potential solution for global food insecurity.
Researchers have discovered a novel strain of cyanobacteria that can grow rapidly in high-CO2 environments, sink in water, and produce valuable commodities. The 'Chonkus' strain has traits useful for biologically-based carbon sequestration and bioproduction.
The Pantanal's soda lakes, characterized by high pH and salinity, have practically dried up due to rising temperatures and wildfires. The study found that certain types of lakes, such as eutrophic turbid lakes, emit methane due to cyanobacterial blooms and decomposing organic matter.
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria can anticipate seasonal changes by sensing photoperiod, promoting cold resistance and altering lipid metabolism. This adaptation may have evolved before circadian clocks, suggesting a new perspective on biological timekeeping.
Researchers engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generating cellular energy without traditional carbon feedstocks. The hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving new biotechnical pathways to non-petroleum-based energy and synthetic biology applications.
Scientists have identified a novel photoreceptor in cyanobacteria that can detect green/teal light, breaking the typical red/green spectrum. The discovery highlights the remarkable diversity and editability of cyanobacteriochromes, expanding our understanding of how these organisms perceive color.
A recent study found that sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria and diatoms in aquatic environments. Sucralose concentrations increased freshwater cyanobacteria population but spiked and crashed brackish cyanobacteria population, while diatom populations decreased across both freshwater and brackish water sites.
Researchers discovered cyanobacteria start bending at around 150 micrometres, revealing a natural tipping point for movement adaptation. This finding has implications for biotechnology applications, such as biofuel production and adaptive biomaterials.
A new study reveals that marine cyanobacteria use membrane nanotubes to transfer material between cells, strengthening the idea of interconnectedness among these organisms. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of ecosystems and fundamental biological processes.
Researchers have discovered that complementary genes in bacteria and algae living in the same algal colonies coordinate the use and movement of nutrients within the colony. This discovery could lead to new ways to prevent harmful algal blooms, improving water quality and habitat for aquatic organisms.
Cyanobacteria have been found to manipulate microorganisms to promote their own photosynthesis by regulating nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. This newly discovered gene, NirP1, plays a key role in this process, allowing cyanobacteria to export nitrite that stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
Researchers found a symbiotic relationship between cyanobacteria UCYN-A and marine algae, B. bigelowii, where UCYN-A fix nitrogen gas into ammonium without regulating dinitrogen use. This suggests they may be on the path to becoming organelle-like structures.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method to produce protein-rich, sustainable foods with improved texture. By inserting foreign genes into cyanobacteria, they can create fibrous strands resembling meat fibers, which could be used in plant-based products.
The discovery of 1.63-billion-year-old multicellular fossils from North China reveals that eukaryotes acquired simple multicellularity approximately 1.05 billion years ago. This finding supports the early appearance of the last eukaryotic common ancestor in the late Paleoproterozoic, consistent with molecular clock studies.
Researchers have identified the oldest thylakoid membranes, 1.2 billion years older than previously known, in 1.75 billion-year-old fossil cyanobacteria. This discovery provides a new approach to understand the early diversification of life and the role of cyanobacteria in the Great Oxygenation Event.
Researchers developed a novel solution for Pichia pastoris enzyme production, utilizing cyanobacterial biomass to support efficient and sustainable industrial processes. The study reveals the potential of cyanobacterial biorefineries to generate high-performing enzyme-producing strains.
Researchers discovered two stages of evolutionary adaptation for cyanobacteria to use far-red light, enabling enhanced light absorption capabilities. The findings hold profound implications for understanding life in the cosmos, particularly in conditions surrounding M-dwarf stars.
Researchers have identified BMAA, a chronic neurotoxin linked to ALS and Alzheimer's, in dust particles from the Great Salt Lake. This dust poses an environmental health risk due to its inhalation potential.
Researchers deciphered when genes responsible for producing 2-methylhopanes were acquired by certain groups of organisms. They found that these genes were likely present in the last common ancestor of Cyanobacteria over two billion years ago.
Researchers discovered two novel compounds, saclipin A and B, with anti-aging and UV-absorbing properties in a freshwater cyanobacterium. The compounds were found to absorb UV radiation, scavenging damaging oxygen free radicals and inhibiting glycation of collagen and elastin.
A team of scientists has discovered a second toxin produced by the cyanobacterium Aetokthonos hydrillicola, which is highly toxic and similar to substances used in cancer treatment. The findings could lead to the development of new anti-cancer drugs.
Researchers have developed a sustainable solution to clean contaminated water using 3D-printed 'living material' containing genetically engineered bacteria that produce an enzyme to transform organic pollutants. The material's surface area and geometry optimize bacterial growth and decontamination efficiency.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new approach using VOCs to detect toxic cyanobacterial blooms in waterways. The method shows promise for predicting the start and end of bloom events, potentially reducing economic losses attributed to these harmful algae blooms.
A new study by Ohio State University suggests that the toxicity of Lake Erie's harmful algal bloom varies over the summer, with an overestimation in warmer months and underestimation in cooler months. The research aims to develop a more accurate toxicology forecast for Lake Erie.
Researchers have developed a new method to remove harmful algal blooms by coating a floating sponge in charcoal-like powder. The technique successfully destroyed over 85% of algal cells, including toxin-producing cyanobacteria, without generating unwanted products.
Scientists have discovered ancient ocean water trapped in mineral deposits in the Himalayas, providing insights into Earth's past climate and oxygen levels. The deposits suggest that slow-growing cyanobacteria may have triggered a major oxygenation event around 700-500 million years ago.
A team of scientists at DESY has developed a new technique using X-rays to image biological specimens without damaging them. The method, which generates high-resolution images at nanometre resolution, could be used for applications such as imaging whole unsectioned cells or tracking nanoparticles within a cell.
Researchers discovered that Trichodesmium filaments form aggregates through a simple behavioural strategy, controlling density and light penetration. This mechanism enables the formation of visible aggregates with unique shapes, providing essential nutrients for other marine organisms.
Researchers discovered a protein involved in membrane remodeling in cyanobacteria, structurally similar to eukaryotic membrane proteins, suggesting it may be the oldest known bacterial ancestor. The protein, SynDLP, was found to have structural properties that match those of eukaryotic dynamin.
ASU researchers have developed a method to regenerate biocrusts on arid lands by harnessing the power of solar farms. The approach, dubbed 'crustivoltaics,' has shown promising results in doubling biocrust biomass and tripling biocrust cover under photovoltaic panels.
Researchers used ancestral sequence reconstruction to study protein interactions in cyanobacteria, finding that they can evolve independently of direct selection pressure. The discovery challenges classical evolutionary theory and suggests that fortuitous compatibility may be the basis for a significant fraction of cellular interactions.
Researchers at the University of Córdoba have shed light on how marine cyanobacteria, the most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth, take advantage of glucose as a source of energy. They found that glucose transport is greater during the day and follows a different circadian cycle than other bacteria in the same area.
Scientists discovered that 12 strains of cyanobacteria can passively collect rare earth elements from wastewater through a process called biosorption. This process has great potential for the circular recovery and reuse of rare earth metals in industries such as mining, electronics, and chemicals.
Researchers genetically engineered a microbial community that can convert CO2 into sugar and produce useful chemicals, effectively acting as a living carbon sink. The community, consisting of bacteria and cyanobacteria, produces chemicals with a negative carbon balance.
Researchers at UCI and Johns Hopkins discovered that microorganisms can modify minerals through a biochemical process, inspiring new biomimetic mining methods. This discovery could enable humans to build colonies on the moon and Mars using microbes to extract essential minerals.
Researchers found that ocean bacteria absorbing carbon dioxide from the air need more energy and resources when infected with viruses and facing predator attacks. This complex interaction can lead to increased carbon sequestration, a key factor in mitigating climate change.
Researchers have discovered that marine diazotrophic bacteria contribute directly to the biological carbon pump, exporting and sequestering carbon in the deep ocean. This process was previously attributed mainly to phytoplankton, but experts now understand that these microorganisms also store carbon on the seabed.
Cyanophycin synthetases, previously thought to require primers, have a hidden reaction centre that cleaves bonds between amino acids. This discovery reveals a 'Swiss army knife enzyme' capable of slow polymerization in the absence of primers.
Researchers have successfully inserted nanotubes into bacteria, allowing for the creation of