Comparative genomics reveals the molecular determinants of rapid growth of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973

Significance There has been recent interest in fast-growing microbes to accelerate discoveries in medicine, biology, and biotechnology. Additionally, microbes with rapid-growth properties are of significant industrial interest as a chassis for bioproduction. While such microbes have been identified, the determinants of their rapid growth remain poorly understood. In this study, we have elucidated the molecular basis for the rapid growth of Synechococcus 2973, a fast-growing oxygenic photosynthetic organism, and applied these insights to significantly enhance the growth rate of a related model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus 7942. Such engineered photosynthetic microbes are expected to open the doors for significantly higher productivity under sustainable conditions.