Cyanobacteria are phototrophic prokaryotes performing plant-like photosynthesis. Like for all phototrophs light sensing is of crucial importance for cyanobacteria to acclimate to the light environment. They have to choose the optimal light conditions for photosynthesis and at the same time they avoid high- and UV-light stress. The concentration of the second messenger molecule c-di-GMP controls the decision of cyanobacteria to move towards a light source or to induce biofilm formation.

In this project we investigate how light signals sensed by photoreceptors are transmitted to downstream components of a so far unknown c-di-GMP related signal transduction chain that controls cyanobacterial motility.