Disruption of a <i>Synechocystis</i> sp. PCC 6803 gene with partial similarity to phytochrome genes alters growth under changing light qualities

Abstract

A gene that may encode a novel light sensing histidine protein kinase, designated plpA (phytochrome-like protein), was isolated from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The 200 COOH-terminal amino acids of the gene product show homology with conserved domains of several bacterial histidine kinases and the ethylene response gene etr1 of Arabidopsis, whereas its central region is similar to the chromophore attachment site of plant phytochromes. Interruption or partial deletion of plpA yielded mutants unable to grow under blue light.