温度对两种蓝藻种间竞争的影响

通过室内实验研究了不同温度条件下主要水华藻类——铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginisa)和巨颤藻(Oscillatoria princeps)的生长和种间竞争。结果表明:无论在纯培养体系还是混合培养体系中,微囊藻在25℃下生长最好,颤藻在30℃下生长最好;温度对藻类的种间竞争抑制参数能够产生明显影响,在20℃、25℃、30℃3个温度下,颤藻对微囊藻的竞争抑制参数随温度的升高而升高,30℃时颤藻对微囊藻的竞争抑制参数分别是20℃和25℃时的1.42倍和1.13倍,微囊藻对颤藻的竞争抑制参数则表现为25℃>30℃>20℃,25℃时微囊藻对颤藻的竞争抑制参数分别是20℃和30℃时的1.54倍和1.21倍,在20℃、25℃、30℃3个温度下,微囊藻对颤藻的竞争抑制参数均大于颤藻对微囊藻的竞争抑制参数,说明在各试验温度下,微囊藻对颤藻的抑制能力均大于颤藻对微囊藻的抑制能力;根据Lotka-Volterra竞争模型中的两物种竞争结果可初步判断,20℃和25℃温度下,微囊藻在竞争中取胜,30℃下,微囊藻和颤藻可以实现不稳定共存。     

温度和氮磷浓度对平裂藻和栅藻生长及竞争的影响

为了解温度及氮磷浓度对平裂藻和栅藻生长及竞争的影响,分别在18、25和35℃条件下,以BG11培养基为基础,设置了不同的氮磷浓度组,进行了2种藻的单独培养试验和混合培养试验,结果表明:在纯培养条件下,低营养浓度组(磷浓度分别为0.1和0.5 mg/L)平裂藻在3种温度下基本停止生长,高营养盐浓度组(磷浓度分别为1.0和1.5 mg/L)除18℃1.0 mg/L组停止生长外,其余均能正常生长增殖,且细胞最大密度表现为25℃ 18℃ 35℃, 1.5和1.0 mg/L浓度组细胞生长差异不显著。栅藻在纯培养条件下,细胞密度总体表现为随着营养盐浓度升高而增加的趋势,细胞最大密度表现为18℃ 25℃ 35℃。在混合培养试验中,除35℃、1.5 mg/L组平裂藻对栅藻的竞争抑制参数大于栅藻对平裂藻的竞争抑制参数外,其余试验组均表现为栅藻受平裂藻影响较小。在混合培养体系中, 0.1 mg/L组平裂藻仍基本停止生长, 0.5 mg/L组受栅藻的刺激作用,生长优于纯培养体系。1.0和1.5 mg/L组均受栅藻的抑制作用,且浓度越高抑制作用越强。       

温度和初始pH对生物结皮中4种优势蓝藻生长的影响

生物土壤结皮对干旱半干旱地区生态环境健康及可持续发展有重要意义。具鞘微鞘藻、伪枝藻、念珠藻和鱼腥藻是生物结皮中蓝藻的优势种,对其大规模培养有着广阔的应用前景。以4种蓝藻为材料,采用室内液体培养方法,研究了5个温度(10、20、25、30、35℃)和5个溶液初始pH(4、6、8、10、12)对4种藻生物量和溶液pH的影响。结果表明：在20℃以下温度培养,供试4种藻生物量增长缓慢,在25～35℃下4种藻均能正常生长,其中25和30℃下藻类生物量增长最快。不同藻种的最适培养温度略有区别,伪枝藻和念珠藻最适培养温度为25～30℃,具鞘微鞘藻和鱼腥藻为30℃。供试4种藻对溶液pH有极强的调节能力,均能够在5个初始pH环境中进行增殖,在初始pH为4的培养环境下能达到最大生物量和比生长速率,在初始pH为12下生物量和比生长速率最低。研究为生物结皮中优势藻的扩繁提供了科学依据。     

几种固沙荒漠藻的温度适应性

蓝藻结皮在干旱和半干旱区广泛分布,它们在环境状态的维持和改良过程中发挥着重要的作用。在荒漠藻固沙技术的应用过程中,温度不仅影响藻类在培养池中的培养,还影响接种后藻类的生长。因此,摸清优势固沙藻类的温度生长特征及对不同温度的生长适应性,对于接种蓝藻固沙技术的应用具有积极的意义。实验分3部分:研究了室温培养条件下3种荒漠优势蓝藻-具鞘微鞘藻(Microcoleus vaginatus)、爪哇伪枝藻(Scytonema javanicum)、纤细席藻(Phormidium tenue)的生长曲线,在不同温度(2、5、10、15、25、35℃)、开放式载体培养状态下3种蓝藻的生长状况及形态观察,以及爪哇伪枝藻在不同温度(10、15、20、25、30℃)培养条件下的光合活性、光合色素含量和伪枝藻素含量的变化。实验结果表明:(1)在液体培养基中,纤细席藻生长速率最快,高于具鞘微鞘藻和爪哇伪枝藻;(2)开放式载体培养条件下,藻株的生长速率低于液体培养,因此荒漠优势藻类的培养优先选择液体培养,具鞘微鞘藻和爪哇伪枝藻不易被细菌污染,纤细席藻容易受到细菌污染,在培养该藻株时要考虑添加抗生素类药物抑制细菌过度繁殖;(3)爪哇伪枝藻短期培养(18d)宜选择相对较高的培养温度(25-30℃),而长期培养(30d)宜选择相对较低的培养温度(15-20℃)。       

温度和初始密度比对2种微藻生长竞争的影响研究

为了探究不同温度和初始密度比对舟形藻和铜绿微囊藻生长竞争的影响,该研究设计不同温度梯度(10、15、20、25、30和35℃)和舟形藻与铜绿微囊藻不同初始密度比(1∶10、1∶1、10∶1),研究不同条件对2种微藻生长竞争的影响。结果表明:(1)单种培养条件下,随温度升高,舟形藻细胞密度呈现先增后减趋势,最适生长温度为20～25℃,最大藻细胞密度为3.883×10~5个/mL;铜绿微囊藻细胞密度随温度升高而增大,35℃达到最大值(4.813×10~6个/mL)。(2)混合培养条件下,温度和初始密度比对两者生长均产生影响,舟形藻对铜绿微囊藻的竞争能力随舟形藻初始密度增大而增强,温度25℃、初始密度比10∶1处理条件下,舟形藻对铜绿微囊藻生长抑制作用最为明显。(3)根据Lotka-Volterra竞争模型推断,高温(30～35℃)条件下,铜绿微囊藻占有优势;低温(10～20℃)条件、初始密度比为1∶10的舟形藻与铜绿微囊藻稳定共存;初始密度比为1∶1和10∶1时舟形藻占有优势,且在舟形藻最适生长条件(25℃)下两者不稳定共存。     

贵阳市天河潭褐角苔Folioceros fuciformis中藻类分布及附生藻类的多样性研究

采用BG-11培养基在12 h/d的光照,温度在25~28℃的环境下,对天河潭褐角苔植物的附生藻类进行平板组织培养,培养出来的藻类,经鉴定,附生在植物体中的主要是念珠藻属、鱼腥藻属及隐球藻。生长在该植物体周边的藻类比较多,例如小球藻属、栅藻属、游丝藻属、卵囊藻属、蹄形藻属以及颤藻属等。其中角苔植物配子体附生的隐球藻属是前人没有报道过的。对采集的标本进行冲洗,在解剖镜观察在褐角苔配子体上藻类分布规律,藻类分布在配子体距边缘0.5~2 mm处。     

铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻在不同温度下的生长特性及竞争参数计算

在实验室条件下,对铜绿微囊（Microcystis aeruginosa）和四尾栅藻（Scendesmus quadricauda）分别在温度22℃、26℃和30℃下进行了纯培养和混合培养,实验结果显示温度对两种藻类的生长和竞争都有显著影响。微囊藻在22℃、26℃和30℃纯培养下的最大生物量及平均特定增长率（μ）分别为444、1180和998（×104cells/mL）及0.33、0.38和0.37/d,说明微囊藻在26℃和30℃下生长较好;混合培养下的最大生物量及平均特定增长率分别为270、778和647（×104cells/mL）及0.34、0.43和0.46/d,显示微囊藻在混合培养下受到了栅藻一定程度的竞争抑制。栅藻在22℃、26℃和30℃纯培养下的最大生物量及平均特定增长率分别为830、984和464（×104cells/mL）及0.36、0.34和0.32/d;混合培养下的最大生物及平均特定增长率分别为538、554和387（×104cells/mL）及0.43、0.40和0.39/d,说明栅藻在温度22℃、26℃下生长较好,混合培养下栅藻的生长受微囊藻影响较大。各温度下两种藻类的生长都可以用Logistic方程拟合。微囊藻对栅藻的抑制参数α分别为1.68（22℃）、0.65（26℃）和0.76（30℃）,而栅藻对微囊藻的抑制参数β依次为0.43（22℃）、0.51（26℃）和0.25（30℃）,三个温度下α均大于β,产生这一结果的原因可能是由于微囊藻与栅藻在竞争过程中不仅表现为资源竞争,同时还存在着明显的他感作用,且可推测微囊藻对栅藻的他感作用大于栅藻对微囊藻的,且在22℃时为最大。     

温度对裂片石莼生长及叶绿素荧光特性的影响北大核心CSCD

旨在研究裂片石莼(Ulva fasciata Delile)对温度适应机制,将藻体于5℃、10℃、15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃、33℃、35℃培养7 d,再经过25℃培养2 d,通过测定不同温度下裂片石莼的生长变化、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧参数及25℃再培养后叶绿素荧光参数探讨不同温度对裂片石莼的影响。结果显示,25℃培养的藻体的生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数(F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'、α、q P)等最大;随着温度的升高或者降低,各项生理指标逐渐降低,而非光化学淬灭系数NPQ随着温度增大或者降低逐渐升高,10℃培养最大,5℃、35℃条件下的各项生理指标最低。5℃、10℃、15℃、20℃、30℃下的藻体经过25℃培养2 d后F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'都有所提高,10℃培养后的藻体提高最大,33℃、35℃再培养后F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'几乎没有变化。研究表明,裂片石莼生长和光合作的最适温度范围为15℃-30℃,5℃和35℃分别为其最高和最低耐受温度,裂片石莼对低温的耐受性大于高温。     

温度对裂片石莼生长及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

旨在研究裂片石莼(Ulva fasciata Delile)对温度适应机制,将藻体于5℃、10℃、15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃、33℃、35℃培养7 d,再经过25℃培养2 d,通过测定不同温度下裂片石莼的生长变化、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧参数及25℃再培养后叶绿素荧光参数探讨不同温度对裂片石莼的影响。结果显示,25℃培养的藻体的生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数(F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'、α、q P)等最大;随着温度的升高或者降低,各项生理指标逐渐降低,而非光化学淬灭系数NPQ随着温度增大或者降低逐渐升高,10℃培养最大,5℃、35℃条件下的各项生理指标最低。5℃、10℃、15℃、20℃、30℃下的藻体经过25℃培养2 d后F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'都有所提高,10℃培养后的藻体提高最大,33℃、35℃再培养后F_v/F_m、F_v'/F_m'几乎没有变化。研究表明,裂片石莼生长和光合作的最适温度范围为15℃-30℃,5℃和35℃分别为其最高和最低耐受温度,裂片石莼对低温的耐受性大于高温。     

转基因鱼腥藻7120适宜生长条件的初步研究

以前的研究报导了将人肿瘤坏死因子基因(TNF-α)成功转入鱼腥藻7120中,这项研究在实验室小规模范围内探讨了其转TNF-α基因鱼腥藻7120的适宜生长条件。结果表明,转基因鱼腥藻7120最适生长温度在25～30℃,最适pH7.0～7.5。不同光照强度下的净光合放氧速率测定结果表明,转基因鱼腥藻7120与野生型具有一致的光饱和点和光补偿点,且适合在10～700μE.m-2.s-1下生长。外加有机碳源(4g/L葡萄糖)一定程度上可以增加转基因鱼腥藻7120生长速度。对不同藻龄转基因鱼腥藻7120中TNF-α的累积量的检测发现:生长8d左右时转基因鱼腥藻7120中TNF-α累积量达到最大值。这将为产业化生产、适时收获转基因蓝藻提供理论指导,同时讨论了葡萄糖对转基因鱼腥藻7120代谢的调节。     

EFFECTS OF HYDROXAMATE SIDEROPHORES (STRONG Fe (III) CHELATORS) ON THE GROWTH OF ALGAE1

Varying concentrations of Fe were tested with three hydroxamate siderophores to demonstrate the interactions affecting growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris. Schizokinen was purified from the excretions of the blue-green alga Anabaena sp. grown in low-Fe medium. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was inhibited by schizokinen when in molar excess of the Fe concentration; the inhibition was overcome with excess Fe. The growth of C. vulgaris was not affected by this chelator. Results with desferrioxamine were similar. A weaker chelator, rhodorulic acid, did not inhibit the growth of either alga. Low concentrations of the chelators may stimulate algal growth when Fe precipitates are hydrolyzed. Since different algae respond differently to the presence of the chelators, the observed interactions could be important in determining competitive relationships when Fe is limiting. If an alga can excrete a strong chelating agent, as does Anabaena, algae lacking the ability to compete with the chelator may not grow.     

外源Ca2+对模拟微重力环境中鱼腥藻细胞质膜透性和光合特性的影响

以鱼腥藻为材料,研究了外源Ca^2 对模拟微重力环境中微藻细胞膜透性的影响。实验结果表明：提高培养基中的Ca^2 浓度可减轻由模拟微重力造成的膜透性增大,有助于稳定细胞膜结构和功能。同时,外源Ca^2 降低了藻细胞光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）的光化学效率（以荧光参数Fv/Fm 表示）下降的由度,表明外源Ca^2 对模拟微生重力环境下鱼腥藻细胞光合作用的损伤,有良好的防护效应。     

Hydrogenases in Nostoc sp. Strain PCC 73102, a Strain Lacking a Bidirectional Enzyme

The present study was carried out in order to examine and characterize the bidirectional hydrogenase in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102. Southern hybridizations with the probes Av1 and Av3 (hoxY and hoxH, bidirectional hydrogenase small and large subunits, respectively) revealed the occurrence of corresponding sequences in Anabaena variabilis (control), Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, and Nostoc muscorum but not in Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102. As a control, hybridizations with the probe hup2 (hupL, uptake hydrogenase large subunit) demonstrated the presence of a corresponding gene in all the cyanobacteria tested, including Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102. Moreover, with three different growth media, a bidirectional enzyme that was functional in vivo was observed in N. muscorum, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, and A. variabilis, whereas Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102 consistently lacked any detectable in vivo activity. Similar results were obtained when assaying for the presence of an enzyme that is functional in vitro. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by in situ hydrogenase activity staining was used to demonstrate the presence or absence of a functional enzyme. Again, bands corresponding to hydrogenase activity were observed for N. muscorum, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, and A. variabilis but not for Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102. In conclusion, we were unable to detect a bidirectional hydrogenase in Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102 with specific physiological and molecular techniques. The same techniques clearly showed the presence of an inducible bidirectional enzyme and corresponding structural genes in N. muscorum, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, and A. variabilis. Hence, Nostoc sp. strain PCC 73102 seems to be an unusual cyanobacterium and an interesting candidate for future biotechnological applications.     

Chemoheterotrophic Growth of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120 Dependent on a Functional Cytochrome c Oxidase

Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a filamentous cyanobacterium commonly used as a model organism for studying cyanobacterial cell differentiation and nitrogen fixation. For many decades, this cyanobacterium was considered an obligate photo-lithoautotroph. We now discovered that this strain is also capable of mixotrophic, photo-organoheterotrophic, and chemo-organoheterotrophic growth if high concentrations of fructose (at least 50 mM and up to 200 mM) are supplied. Glucose, a substrate used by some facultatively organoheterotrophic cyanobacteria, is not effective in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. The gtr gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encoding a glucose carrier was introduced into Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Surprisingly, the new strain containing the gtr gene did not grow on glucose but was very sensitive to glucose, with a 5 mM concentration being lethal, whereas the wild-type strain tolerated 200 mM glucose. The Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 strain containing gtr can grow mixotrophically and photo-organoheterotrophically, but not chemo-organoheterotrophically with fructose. Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 contains five respiratory chains ending in five different respiratory terminal oxidases. One of these enzymes is a mitochondrial-type cytochrome c oxidase. As in almost all cyanobacteria, this enzyme is encoded by three adjacent genes called coxBAC1. When this locus was disrupted, the cells lost the capability for chemo-organoheterotrophic growth.     

Growth competition between Microcystis aeruginosa and Quadrigula chodatii under controlled conditions

Cyanobacteria are the dominant bloom-forming species in Lake Taihu. Understanding the competition among algae is important to control strategies for bloom formation and outbreaks in freshwater ecosystems. In this study, we demonstrate that the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7820 and the green alga Quadrigula chodatii FACHB-1080 exhibit a strong competitive inhibitory relationship under co-culture conditions, with the latter strain inhibiting the former. Several factors influence the competitive relationship between the two species, including nutrition, temperature, and organic/inorganic compounds. Q. chodatii strongly inhibited M. aeruginosa growth through the inhibition of nitrogen utilization during co-culture. Temperature was also an influential determinant of the competition capacity between the two species under eutrophic conditions: at lower temperatures (15 °C), M. aeruginosa grew better than Q. chodatii, but the difference was not significant (p?>?0.05), whereas at higher temperatures (25 °C, 35 °C), Q. chodatii grew significantly better than M. aeruginosa (p?<?0.05). Furthermore, the Q. chodatii filtrate strongly inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa. An analysis of the crude extracts of the algae culture filtrates from uni- and co-cultures using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) indicated that algal metabolites, such as dibutyl phthalate and beta-sitosterol, might play a key role in the competition between algae.     

鱼腥藻PCC 7120乙酰辅酶A合成酶All0769的缺失降低异形胞频率

研究鉴定了All0769为鱼腥藻PCC 7120中乙酰辅酶A合成酶,通过CRISPR/Cpf1系统敲除鱼腥藻PCC7120中的乙酰辅酶A合成酶(由all0769编码),探究了乙酰辅酶A合成酶在异形胞分化中的调控机制。结果所示:All0769能在体外反应中催化乙酰辅酶A的生成。在供氮环境下,敲除all0769会影响藻细胞生长速率。而无论环境中是否存在化合氮,Δall0769突变株的乙酰辅酶A和α-酮戊二酸含量均显著减少。在供氮环境下,Δall0769突变株中检测到(26.17±1.55) nmol/mg protein的乙酰辅酶A,而在野生型中检测出(43.04±1.09) nmol/mg的乙酰辅酶A。Δall0769突变株的α-酮戊二酸[(1.41±0.24) nmol/mg protein]低于野生型的α-酮戊二酸[(2.13±0.05) nmol/mg protein]。在缺氮环境下,Δall0769突变株中检测到(10.00±2.81) nmol/mg protein的乙酰辅酶A,而在野生型中检测出(29.82±4.04) nmol/mg protein的乙酰辅酶A。Δall07...     

Involvement of the hap gene (mucinase) in the survival of Vibrio cholerae O1 in association with the blue-green alga,Anabaena sp

Mucinase is a soluble haemagglutinin protease, which may be important for the survival of Vibrio cholerae in association with mucilaginous blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). A comparative survival study was carried out with an Anabaena sp. and a wild-type V. cholerae O1 strain hap+ gene (haemagglutinin-protease), together with its isogenic mutant hap (hap-deleted gene). A simple spread plate technique was followed to count culturable V. cholerae O1 on taurocholate tellurite gelatin agar plate. The fluorescent antibody technique of Kogure et al. (1979) was used for the microscopical viable count of V. cholerae O1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot hybridization were carried out to detect a lower number of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) V. cholerae O1 from the laboratory-based experiments. The wild and mutant V. cholerae O1 strains survived in culturable form for 22 and 10 days. respectively, in association with the Anabaena sp., with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01). The fluorescent antibody technique, PCR, and hybridization results also showed that the wild strain survived better in the VBNC state than did the mutant VBNC strain in association with an Anabaena sp. These results indicate that the enzyme mucinase may play an important role in the association and long-term survival of V. cholerae O1 with a mucilaginous blue-green alga, Anabaena sp.     

Effect of heat shock on protein synthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301.

The response to heat shock at 47 degrees C was examined in the cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301. On heat shock, the growth of the cells decreased and they preferentially synthesized a limited number of polypeptides. The rate of synthesis of these proteins increased markedly in the early period of temperature shift up and gradually decreased afterwards. Among the proteins greatly affected by temperature shift up were those with apparent molecular weights of 91,000 (91K), 79K, 78K, 74K, 65K, 64K, 61K, 49K, 45K, 24K, 22K, 18K, 16K, 14K, 12K, and 11.4K, based on their mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. From these initial studies on Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301 we conclude that in cyanobacteria a heat shock response similar to that known to occur in other eucaryotes and procaryotes might exist.     

磷浓度对小环藻、大型溞和金鱼藻三者相互作用的影响

为了解磷浓度对水生植被恢复和生物操纵效果的影响, 分别用小环藻(Cyclotella sp.)、大型溞(Daphnia magna)和金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum)代表浮游植物、浮游动物和大型沉水植物建立水生微宇宙模型, 在25℃、2600 lx光强和11 mg/L氮浓度条件下, 分别研究小环藻与大型溞、小环藻与金鱼藻、小环藻-大型溞-金鱼藻共培养时4种磷浓度(0.05、0.1、0.5和2 mg/L)下小环藻、大型溞、金鱼藻的增长率以及培养液中氮磷去除率的变化。结果表明: 小环藻与大型溞、小环藻与金鱼藻两两共培养时, 磷浓度为0.05-2 mg/L时, 金鱼藻和大型溞均生长良好, 小环藻受到明显抑制, 其密度保持较小幅度的正增长。在小环藻-大型溞-金鱼藻三者共培养时, 在0.05-2 mg/L的磷浓度范围内大型溞和金鱼藻生长良好, 与两两共培养相比, 小环藻则受到了更大程度的抑制, 在磷浓度为0.05-0.1 mg/L时藻密度呈现负增长. 这说明在水生态系统中, 大型浮游动物和沉水植物对浮游藻类的联合控制效果远好于各自单独的控制效果, 该控制效果随磷浓度的提高而减弱, 以0.1 mg/L的磷浓度为最佳。在实验结束后测定氮磷去除率发现, 在最低磷浓度(0.05 mg/L),即磷限制时, 水中磷去除率最高, 在最高磷浓度(2 mg/L), 即氮限制时, 水中氮去除率最高。     

Substrate specificities and availability of fucosyltransferase and beta-carotene hydroxylase for myxol 2'-fucoside synthesis in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 compared with Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

To elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of carotenoids, especially myxol 2'-glycosides, in cyanobacteria, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 (also known as Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120) and Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 deletion mutants lacking selected proposed carotenoid biosynthesis enzymes and GDP-fucose synthase (WcaG), which is required for myxol 2'-fucoside production, were analyzed. The carotenoids in these mutants were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography, field desorption mass spectrometry, and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance. The wcaG (all4826) deletion mutant of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 produced myxol 2'-rhamnoside and 4-ketomyxol 2'-rhamnoside as polar carotenoids instead of the myxol 2'-fucoside and 4-ketomyxol 2'-fucoside produced by the wild type. Deletion of the corresponding gene in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 (sll1213; 79% amino acid sequence identity with the Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 gene product) produced free myxol instead of the myxol 2'-dimethyl-fucoside produced by the wild type. Free myxol might correspond to the unknown component observed previously in the same mutant (H. E. Mohamed, A. M. L. van de Meene, R. W. Roberson, and W. F. J. Vermaas, J. Bacteriol. 187:6883-6892, 2005). These results indicate that in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, but not in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, rhamnose can be substituted for fucose in myxol glycoside. The beta-carotene hydroxylase orthologue (CrtR, Alr4009) of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 catalyzed the transformation of deoxymyxol and deoxymyxol 2'-fucoside to myxol and myxol 2'-fucoside, respectively, but not the beta-carotene-to-zeaxanthin reaction, whereas CrtR from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 catalyzed both reactions. Thus, the substrate specificities or substrate availabilities of both fucosyltransferase and CrtR were different in these species. The biosynthetic pathways of carotenoids in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 are discussed.