Analysis of gene expression in the wild type and rel- strains of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 with RNA sequencing during constant light conditions

Rel is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of ppGpp. We investigated the role of ppGpp in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 in constant light and after exposure to darkness. We performed RNA-seq experiments using the rel- strain and wild type and show that ppGpp is required for regulation of global transcription in light and in darkness. Overall design: Enriched mRNA was prepared from synchronized S. elongatus cells at indicated time points using the Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA Sample Prep Kit and Illumina HiSeq technology. Gene expression in the rel- strain was compared at each time point to the control wild type strain.