Genetic Analysis of Cyanobacteria

Abstract

This chapter reviews the advances of the last few years in the development and use of genetic systems in cyanobacteria. These include the gene transfer techniques of conjugation, transformation and electroporation as well as mutagenesis by conventional and recombinant DNA-based techniques. Reporter systems, particularly lacZ and luxAB, are used to measure gene expression and to identify novel genes that are expressed under specific physiological conditions. Transposons that have a reporter gene can simultaneously inactivate a gene and report expression of the interrupted gene. Such transposons provide a powerful tool for the identification of environmentally regulated genes. The technique of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, combined with Southern hybridization analysis using cloned cyanobacterial genes and transposon-tagged genes as probes, has allowed the construction of the first detailed maps of cyanobacterial chromosomes.