02241nas a2200241 4500008004100000245018900041210006900230260001200299300001600311490000700327520137700334653001501711653001801726653001301744653001701757653002001774100002801794700003201822700002301854700002601877700003301903856006301936 2018 eng d00aPhotoecology of the Antarctic cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307 brought to light through community analysis, comparative genomics and in vitro photophysiology0 aPhotoecology of the Antarctic cyanobacterium iLeptolyngbyai sp B c11/2018 a5279 - 52930 v273 a

Cyanobacteria are important photoautotrophs in extreme environments such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Terrestrial Antarctic cyanobacteria experience constant darkness during the winter and constant light during the summer which influences the ability of these organisms to fix carbon over the course of an annual cycle. Here, we present a unique approach combining community structure, genomic and photophysiological analyses to understand adaptation to Antarctic light regimes in the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307. We show that Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307 belongs to a clade of cyanobacteria that inhabits near‐surface environments in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Genomic analyses reveal that, unlike close relatives, Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307 lacks the genes necessary for production of the pigment phycoerythrin and is incapable of complimentary chromatic acclimation, while containing several genes responsible for known photoprotective pigments. Photophysiology experiments confirmed Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307 to be tolerant of short‐term exposure to high levels of photosynthetically active radiation, while sustained exposure reduced its capacity for photoprotection. As such, Leptolyngbya sp. BC1307 likely exploits low‐light microenvironments within cyanobacterial mats in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

10aAntarctica10acyanobacteria10agenomics10aphotoecology10aphotophysiology1 aChrismas, Nathan, A. M.1 aWilliamson, Christopher, J.1 aYallop, Marian, L.1 aAnesio, Alexandre, M.1 aSánchez-Baracaldo, Patricia uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.14953