The production of alginate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is induced under anaerobic conditions that are for example occurring in the lung of cystic fibrosis patients. Increased levels of alginate are detected after 1 h exposure to 0% oxygen. The membrane bound diguanylate cyclase SadC is involved in stimulating alginate biosynthesis and shows increased c-di-GMP production under oxygen limitation; however, it does not contain canonical oxygen-binding domains.

The aim of this study is to gain insight into the mechanism underlying the oxygen-dependent regulation of SadC and alginate production.