Work package 2 (WP2)

1
Work package 2 (WP2) Topic Cyanobacterial
Dormant Forms in an Aquatic environment Objective
To reveal conditions and processes involved in
germination
Task Deliverable month
1. Determine environmental variables/stimuli responsible for the arousal of akinetes from the dormant stage D10 12 (M12)
2. Metabolic pathways associated with the germination of akinetes D10 30 (M30)
3. Identification of compounds and metabolites involved in germination D13 30 (M30)
4. Gene expression during akinete germination D11 35 (M35)
5. Quantitative analyses of the expression of specific genes by QPCR D12 35 (M35)
6. Summary and Report D14 36 (M36)
2
D10 and D13 Studies on conditions and
mechanisms involved in akinetes germination
Environmental stimuli P concentration, pH,
temperature (5 30 C), light intensity and
quality, L/D regime Processes involved in
germination Phosphate uptake Is there an
increase in alkaline phosphatase activity?
Nitrogen metabolism enzymes involved - nitrate
reductase, glutamine synthetase. Metabolic
pathways Resumption of photosynthetic apparatus
(synthesis of pigments), CO2 uptake, O2
evolution/consumption (respiration). Degradation
of metabolites carbohydrates, cyanophycin
enzymes involved, e.g cyanophycinase.
3

• D11, D12
• Identification of genes associated with
  germination in cyanobacteria
• Genes that are expressed
• Gene expression/repression studies regulated
  up/down during akinete germination
• Microarrays using samples collected from
  germinating akinetes and vegetative cells
• Proteome profiling to identify specific proteins
  associated with germinating akinetes