Analysis of gene expression in the rel- relA+ and the rel- relAE335Q strain of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 - RNA sequencing during exposure to darkness (cells grown in light/dark conditions)

We investigated the role of basal ppGpp levels in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 in adaptation to darkness. We performed RNA-seq experiments using the rel- relA+ and the rel- relAE335Q strain at dusk and during exposure to 12 h of darkness. We show that basal ppGpp levels is not sufficient for restoration of appropriate transcriptional shutdown in response to 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.