Siebers/Snoep lab

Siebers/Snoep lab

Modelling of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic metabolic pathway in Synechocystis

Cyanobacteria such as Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 can switch between photoautotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism. Previous studies demonstrated that in addition to day/night cycles, inorganic carbon and nitrogen fluctuations can induce such switches. The switch involves two major hubs (control points) at the level of glycogen metabolism and triosephosphate conversion. Notably, the Synechocystis primary metabolism is characterized by parallel pathways and multiple isoenzymes. Hence, we hypothesize that these isoenzymes might possess different kinetic and regulatory properties to perform the autotrophy-heterotrophy switch. The scope of this subproject is to perform detailed enzyme characterizations combined with mathematical models (Co-PI Jacky Snoep, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa) in order to identify important control points for the metabolic switch in Synechocystis.

Principal Investigator

Prof. Bettina Siebers | © Bettina Siebers

Prof. Bettina Siebers

University of Duisburg-Essen
Faculty of Chemistry, Biofilm Centre
Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry (MEB)
Universitätstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
bettina.siebersuni-due.de
Website

Co-Principal Investigator

Prof. Jacky Snoep | © Jacky Snoep

Prof. Jacky Snoep

jacky.snoepmac.com
Website

Members

Carmen Peragile

Carmen Peragile

carmen.peraglieuni-due.de

Dr. Lu Shen

Dr. Lu Shen

Maternal leave