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Potassium uptake in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 mainly depends on a Ktr‐like system encoded by slr1509 ( ntpJ )
Author(s) -
Berry Stephan,
Esper Berndt,
Karandashova Inga,
Teuber Markus,
Elanskaya Irina,
Rögner Matthias,
Hagemann Martin
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00729-4
Subject(s) - mutant , potassium , cyanobacteria , strain (injury) , synechocystis , chemistry , biochemistry , bacteria , gene , kinetics , biophysics , biology , genetics , anatomy , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
The molecular basis of potassium uptake in cyanobacteria has not been elucidated. However, genes known from other bacteria to encode potassium transporters can be identified in the genome of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. Mutants defective in kdpA and ntpJ were generated and characterized to address the role of the Kdp and KtrAB systems in this strain. KtrAB is crucial for K + uptake, as the Δ ntpJ mutant shows slowed growth, slowed potassium uptake kinetics, and increased salt sensitivity. The Δ kdpA mutant has the same phenotype as the wild type even at limiting potassium, but a Δ kdpA Δ ntpJ double mutant is not viable, indicating a role of Kdp for potassium uptake when the Ktr system is not functioning.