Fig. 5: Inducible cell death of strain Laccase⁺-riboF-Lysis⁺.

a Schematic of constitutive expression of CotA, and riboswitch conformation change with the addition of theophylline, leading to the overexpression of Synpcc7942_0766, prophage excision, and subsequent cell death. b Representative images of day 0 and day 12 images of the hydrogels containing Laccase⁻-riboF-Lysis⁻ control and Laccase⁺-riboF-Lysis⁺ strains supplemented with either medium only, 1% DMSO, or 1 mM theophylline. The experiment was repeated thrice with similar results. c Growth curves of the Laccase⁻-riboF-Lysis⁻ control and Laccase⁺-riboF-Lysis⁺ strains with the addition of either 1 mM theophylline (Thf) (square) or 1% DMSO (circle) in solution. Experiments were conducted in triplicate from independent samples (n = 3). Data are mean ± S.D. d Representative image of liquid cultures of Laccase⁻-riboF-Lysis⁻ and Laccase⁺-riboF-Lysis⁺ strains three days post supplementation with 1 mM theophylline. Experiments were conducted in triplicate from independent samples (n = 3).