Up-regulated Gene Expression during Dehydration in a Terrestrial Cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. Strain HK-01

Abstract

Genes expressed more intensively during dehydration were screened in the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. HK-01, which is phylogenetically very similar to the aquatic Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. A DNA microarray for Anabaena was used to determine the gene expression of Nostoc sp. HK-01 cells. The results showed that genes homologous with those of Anabaena were expressed increasingly more during dehydration. The expression was transient in Anabaena while in Nostoc it increased until the wet weight decreased to 10% of that before drying. It was concluded that the higher desiccation-tolerance of Nostoc was supported by the more intensive gene expression than in Anabaena. © 2006, Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology & The Japanese Society of Soil Microbiology. All rights reserved.