Factors Controlling Floc Formation and Structure in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

Some bacteria form flocs, which are multicellular floating assemblages of many thousands of cells. Flocs have been relatively little studied compared to surface-adherent biofilms, but flocculation could play many physiological roles, be a crucial factor in marine carbon burial, and enable more efficient biotechnological cell harvesting. We studied floc formation and architecture in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, using mutants to identify specific cell surface structures required for floc formation. We show that floc formation is regulated by blue and green light perceived by the photoreceptor Cph2. The flocs have a characteristic structure based on strands of linked cells aggregating into dense clusters. Cells within the dense clusters show signs of nutrient stress, pointing to a disadvantage of floc formation.