Formation and functional significance of storage products in cyanobacteria

Abstract

The most common storage products of cyanobacteria are polyphosphate as a phosphorus storage compound, cyanophycin or phycobilin protein pigment as nitrogen storage products, and glycogen as a storage product of both carbon and energy. Nutrient uptake kinetics are regulated by the storage pools, and the patterns of regulation have a feedback effect on the amount of accumulated nutrient in the cells. Besides having a storage function the nutrient storage products are likely to act as metabolic sinks during conditions of energy stress. Regulation of storage products is especially strict in light‐limited cultures. By increasing the rate of polysaccharide formation during growth with short photoperiods, cyanobacteria are able to sustain relatively high growth rates. This effect is enhanced by keeping respiratory losses very low. © Crown copyright 1987.