Phosphatidylglycerol is an essential phospholipid for photosynthesis and other cellular processes. We investigated the role of phosphatidylglycerol in cell division and metabolism in a phophatidylglycerol-auxotrophic strain of Synechococcus PCC7942. Here we show that phosphatidylglycerol is essential for the photosynthetic electron transfer and for the oligomerisation of the photosynthetic complexes, notably, we revealed that this lipid is important for non-linear electron transport. Furthermore, we demonstrate that phosphatidylglycerol starvation elevated the expressions of proteins of nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Moreover, we show that phosphatidylglycerol-deficient cells changed the morphology, became elongated, the FtsZ ring did not assemble correctly, and subsequently the division was hindered. However, supplementation with phosphatidylglycerol restored the ring-like structure at the mid-cell region and the normal cell size, demonstrating the phosphatidylglycerol is needed for normal septum formation. Taken together, central roles of phosphatidylglycerol were revealed; it is implicated in the photosynthetic activity, the metabolism and the fission of bacteria.

Center for Gene Research Nagoya University Furocyo Chikusa Nagoya 464 8607 Japan

Institute of Biology Savaria Campus Eötvös Lorand University Szombathely H 9700 Hungary

Institute of Microbiology Center Algatech Czech Academy of Sciences Opatovický mlýn 37981 Třeboň Czech Republic

Institute of Plant Biology Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences H 6701 Szeged Hungary

Institute of Plant Biology Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences H 6701 Szeged Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology University of Szeged H 6726 Szeged Hungary

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