The glycine decarboxylase complex is not essential for the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

In order to investigate the metabolic importance of glycine decarboxylase (GDC) in cyanobacteria, mutants were generated defective in the genes encoding GDC subunits and the serine hydroxymethyl-transferase (SHMT). It was possible to mutate the genes for GDC subunits P, T, or H protein in the cyanobacterial model strain Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, indicating that GDC is not necessary for cell viability under standard conditions. In contrast, the SHMT coding gene was found to be essential. Almost no changes in growth, pigmentation, or photosynthesis were detected in the GDC subunit mutants, regardless of whether or not they were cultivated at ambient or high CO2 concentrations. The mutation of GDC led to an increased glycine/serine ratio in the mutant cells. Furthermore, supplementation of the medium with low glycine concentrations was toxic for the mutants but not for wild type cells. Conditions stimulating photorespiration in plants, such as low CO2 concentrations, did not induce but decrease the expression of the GDC and SHMT genes in Synechocystis. It appears that, in contrast to heterotrophic bacteria and plants, GDC is dispensable for Synechocystis and possibly other cyanobacteria.