News

Researchers from the Centre for Molecular Cell Biology have co-authored a Minireview exploring the impact of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the most widely studied laboratory cyanobacterium. The article appears in a Special Series on the History of Microbial Model Systems published in the Journal of Bacteriology.

Working in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Freiburg, Rostock, and Tübingen, the team traces how Synechocystis PCC 6803 became established as a central model organism in photosynthesis research. The review highlights the organism's methodological advantages and outlines the significant contributions that studies of Synechocystis have made to our understanding of photosynthetic processes and the biology of phototrophic microorganisms. The Minireview provides valuable insight into how this model system continues to shape discoveries in microbial physiology and bioenergetics.

Reference:

Doello S, Hammerl J, Forchhammer K, Hagemann M, Hess WR, Mullineaux CW, Wilde A. 2026. From pond to platform: how Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 became the default model cyanobacterium. J Bacteriol 208:e00535-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.00535-25.