Evolutionary process of loss of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria adapted to long-term dark heterotrophy

Prevalence of parasitic and mycoheterotrophic plants suggests that evolution leading to loss of photosynthetic capability frequently occurs in photosynthetic organisms under the natural environment. However, there have been no reports observing directly such evolutionary events leading loss of photosynthetic capability. Leptolyngbya boryana is a filamentous cyanobacterium that can grow in complete darkness using glucose as a carbon source. In this project, we isolated many dark adapted variants that were cultivated heterotrophically in complete darkness for a long time. Through genome analysis of the variants we will reveal evolutionary processes toward eventual loss of photosynthesis capability.