Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria

Dr. Sofia Doello, Emmy-Noether-Young Researcher Group

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Sofia.doello@lmu.de

+49 89 2180 74755

E03.019

Research

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Cyanobacteria are ancient organisms with a remarkable capacity to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions, enabling them to colonize a wide range of ecosystems. Our research focuses on uncovering the regulatory and adaptive mechanisms that control cyanobacterial metabolism at the molecular level. We address these fundamental questions by investigating how unicellular cyanobacteria respond to nutrient starvation.

Methods and Approaches

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Using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a model system and combining physiological and biochemical approaches, we investigate how cells shut down their metabolism to enter a dormant state, survive prolonged stress, and rapidly awaken when nutrients become available again.

Key Publications

S. Mondal, J. Alford, K. Christoph, K. Forchhammer, and S. Doello, “BPP bioportide™-mediated (genetic) transformation in cyanobacteria: A rapid and simplified approach for efficient molecular translocation and genome modification,” Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1812316.

S. Doello et al., “Metabolite-level regulation of enzymatic activity controls awakening of cyanobacteria from metabolic dormancy,” Current Biology, vol. 35, pp. 77–86, 2025 doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.011.

S. Doello et al., “Structural basis of the allosteric regulation of cyanobacterial glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by the redox sensor OpcA,” PNAS, vol. 121, e2411604121, 2024. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2411604121.

S. Doello, M. Burkhardt, and K. Forchhammer, “The essential role of sodium bioenergetics and ATP homeostasis in the developmental transitions of a cyanobacterium,” Current Biology, vol. 31, p. 1.10, 2021. :doi 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.065.

S. Doello, A. Klotz*, A. Makowka, K. Gutekunst, and K. Forchhammer, “A specific glycogen mobilization strategy enables rapid awakening of dormant cyanobacteria from chlorosis,” Plant Physiology, vol. 177, pp. 594–603, 2018. doi: 10.1104/pp.18.00297.