Researchers look at altering tools cyanobacteria use to capture light for photosynthesis

In Washington state, a recent study by researchers from the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and Washington University investigated effects of altering large cellular complexes called phycobilisomes, which cyanobacteria use to efficiently capture light energy for photosynthesis, to guide development of optimal strategies for biofuel production.

The findings revealed changes to phycobilisome structure indirectly affect critical, wide-ranging pathways in metabolism and other core cellular processes, beyond light harvesting and photosynthesis. Although altering the structure of phycobilisomes might improve the efficiency of energy capture for biotechnology applications, these efforts could come at the cost of reducing the ability of the mutant cyanobacteria to carry out basic cellular functions.