Fig. 5: Dual function of cHO-dependent phycobiliprotein during acclimation of growth light-illuminated cyanobacteria to a nitrogen-fluctuating environment.

a, b The cHO-dependent phycobiliprotein is important for the cell growth via assembling into phycobilisome (light-harvesting function) after the nitrate is added to nitrogen-starved cells (a) and decomposing into nitrogen source (nitrogen-storage function) after the nitrate is removed from the culture medium (b). Error bars denote the standard deviations of four independent measurements (n = 4). c, d The cHO-dependent phycobiliprotein is of great importance for the growth of cells in repeated cycles of nitrogen deprivation followed by replenishment treatments. Error bars denote the standard deviations of four independent measurements (n = 4).