One such interdisciplinary team at the University of Colorado Boulder has produced recent research that revealed surprising and important findings. What Kuchta and colleagues discovered is that ocean microbes—especially the cyanobacteria—are integral to increasing environmental resilience. Jerome Fox, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Carrie Eckert of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) co-authored this paper. From microbes transforming the environment to survival strategies in extreme climates, they dive into how these little things change big pictures.
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, play key roles in marine environments. They are deeply involved in global carbon cycling. In order to optimize the acclimation of these microorganisms, the research team aimed to identify different strategies to increase their effectiveness. This is essential for protecting their ecological role and adaptation services amid increasing climate impacts. The study used cutting edge CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens to knock out and elucidate the key genetic pathways trademarks to this process.
Andrew Hren, a Ph.D. student in the Fox Group at the time, was the lead author on the study. His research addressed the biological intricacy of cyanobacterial acclimation and how process could be improved through directed, synthetic genetic modification. “The insights gleaned from this research could inform future efforts to harness cyanobacteria for environmental applications,” Hren stated.
Jerome Fox, Commission Chair, thanked his fellow Commissioners for their insightful and important contributions. He particularly credited former RASEI senior scientist fellow Carrie Eckert for working on the project and thanked former University of Colorado Boulder associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry Jeff Cameron for inspiring the research. Cameron was a RASEI fellow whose foundational ideas largely inspired the trajectory of this study.
Despite their differences, this collaborative effort produced astounding findings. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, these discoveries were a major step forward in our understanding of cyanobacterial biology. The full paper is available online at doi:10.1073/pnas.2412625122.
This research demonstrates the importance of ocean microbes for the long-term health of our planet. It further demonstrates the power of cutting-edge research techniques, such as CRISPRi, to uncover the genetic basis of microbial acclimation. By enhancing our understanding of how these organisms adapt, scientists can better predict their responses to environmental changes and contribute positively to ecological health.
