Involvement of the cmpABCD Genes in Bicarbonate Transport of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7942

Abstract

Cyanobacteria possess a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) which elevates the CO2 concentration around the active site of Rubisco and thereby compensates for the low selectivity of Rubisco for CO2 [1]. Active transport into the cell of inorganic carbon (CO2 and HCO3 -; designated hereafter Ci) is an essential function of the CCM, and physiological studies have suggested the occurrence of multiple forms of CO2 and HCO2 - transporters. However, no proteins or genes directly involved in the process of Ci transport have been identified.