Abstract
We previously reported that cell flocculation was induced at low temperture in Thermosynechococcus vulcanus RKN, and that the flocculation was released when treated with cellulase. In the genome of closely-related T. elongatus BP-1, there are three putative cellulose synthase genes. We also reported that disruption of Tvtll0007 abolished the cell flocculations but disruption of the other genes (Tvtlr1795 and Tvtlr1930-33) did not affect the flocculation.
Here, we performed quantitative RT-PCR to examine relationship between gene expression and the flocculation. At low temperature, cell flocculation was almost completed in 48h. mRNA levels of Tvtlr1795 and Tvtlr1930-33 increased remarkably in 1h and kept at high level thereafter. On the other hand, Tvtll0007 showed only slight induction, while the expression was relatively high. To further understand the low temperature-induced flocculation, we are trying to measure cellulose synthase activity in vivo, and in vitro.
