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. 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.