Thermal transcriptome of Synechocystis in response to gradual heat stress

Here we use a transcriptomic approach to investigate the molecular underpinnings of thermal stress in the model cyanobacteria species Synechocystis. We impose gradual heat stress by increasing the temperature in a stepwise fashion (1.5 °C h-1) from their optimal growth temperature of 30 °C to a maximum temperature of 46.5 °C over a period of 12h. Cultures (n=6) of Synechocystis were grown for more than 10 generations at optimal temperature conditions of 30 °C using continuous culture methods. Three cultures were exposed to the gradual heat stress (Treatment), whilst the other three cultures were maintained under stock culture conditions (Control). All cultures were sampled every hour creating a time series of 12 equally spaced time points. Cells were harvested by filtering at least 50 mL on to a polycarbonate membrane and flash freezing in liquid nitrogen.