Genome rearrangement drives major phenotypic shifts in toxin-producing cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria can produce metabolites that are toxic to humans and other animals. The most of common of these, microcystin, is produced by the genus Microcystis. In natural populations, microcystin-producing and non-producing strains coexist.

We will address the outstanding question on how cyanobacterial strain diversity is generated and maintained in the natural environment.

We propose that the dynamics of microcystin-producing and non microcystin-producing Microcystis is driven by transposon-induced genome rearrangements during periods of nutrient stress.

In addition, we hypothesize that different conditions in the environment drives strain selection and that genomes consist of a mix-and-match of genes.

We have designed four subprojects across four years including laboratory experiments, field studies, and bioinformatic analysis.

Specifically, we will identify field conditions that favor different strain types and whether nutrient stress induces transposases and loss of microcystin genes. Genome analyses will be used to connect strain type to environmental preferences. The PIs complement each other by uniting the fields of phytoplankton evolutionary ecology and genomics.

A PhD student and part-time technician will be involved in the project.

We expect that our results will help advance the frontier of the field by understanding the dynamics and diversity of microcystin producing cyanobacteria, but ultimately also understanding cyanobacterial geno- and phenotype diversity.