Blikstad group

Carbon fixation and the CO2 concentration mechanism in cyanobacteria.

Our research

The Blikstad group is interested in carbon fixation and the CO2 concentration mechanism in cyanobacteria. To overcome Rubisco’s catalytic limitations, cyanobacteria have evolved a system which create a locally high concentration of CO2 around Rubisco. The system consists of two major components: energy-coupled inorganic carbon transporters and carboxysomes, a bacterial organelle that encapsulate carbonic anhydrase and Rubisco within a protein shell. We use a combination of biochemistry, enzymology, synthetic biology, structural biology, and bioinformatics to study various aspects (function, structure, assembly, regulation etc.) of the cyanobacterial CO2 concentrating mechanism. A basic understanding of this mechanism will guide novel approaches for engineering future microorganisms and crops with enhanced photosynthetic efficiencies.

For more information about our research, visit our external webb: blikstadlab.org.

Group members

Research leader: Cecilia Blikstad

Publications

Identification of a carbonic anhydrase-Rubisco complex within the alpha-carboxysome

Blikstad, Cecilia; Dugan, Eli J.; Laughlin, Thomas G.; Turnsek, Julia B. et al.

Part of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2023
- DOI for Identification of a carbonic anhydrase-Rubisco complex within the alpha-carboxysome
- Download full text (pdf) of Identification of a carbonic anhydrase-Rubisco complex within the alpha-carboxysome
Rubisco forms a lattice inside alpha-carboxysomes

Metskas, Lauren Ann; Ortega, Davi; Oltrogge, Luke M.; Blikstad, Cecilia et al.

Part of Nature Communications, 2022
- DOI for Rubisco forms a lattice inside alpha-carboxysomes
- Download full text (pdf) of Rubisco forms a lattice inside alpha-carboxysomes
Systematic Discovery of Short Linear Motifs Decodes Calcineurin Phosphatase Signaling

Wigington, Callie P.; Roy, Jagoree; Damle, Nikhil P.; Yadav, Vikash K. et al.

Part of Molecular Cell, p. 342-+, 2020
- DOI for Systematic Discovery of Short Linear Motifs Decodes Calcineurin Phosphatase Signaling
Systematic identification of recognition motifs for the hub protein LC8

Jespersen, Nathan; Estelle, Aidan; Waugh, Nathan; Davey, Norman E. et al.

Part of Life Science Alliance, 2019
- DOI for Systematic identification of recognition motifs for the hub protein LC8
- Download full text (pdf) of Systematic identification of recognition motifs for the hub protein LC8
Discovery of short linear motif-mediated interactions through phage display of intrinsically disordered regions of the human proteome

Davey, Norman E.; Seo, Moon-Hyeong; Yadav, Vikash Kumar; Jeon, Jouhyun et al.

Part of The FEBS Journal, p. 485-498, 2017
- DOI for Discovery of short linear motif-mediated interactions through phage display of intrinsically disordered regions of the human proteome
- Download full text (pdf) of Discovery of short linear motif-mediated interactions through phage display of intrinsically disordered regions of the human proteome
High-throughput methods for identification of protein-protein interactions involving short linear motifs

Blikstad, Cecilia; Ivarsson, Ylva

Part of Cell Communication and Signaling, 2015
- DOI for High-throughput methods for identification of protein-protein interactions involving short linear motifs
- Download full text (pdf) of High-throughput methods for identification of protein-protein interactions involving short linear motifs
Substrate scope and selectivity in offspring to an enzyme subjected to directed evolution

Blikstad, Cecilia; Dahlström, Käthe; Salminen, Tiina; Widersten, Mikael

Part of The FEBS Journal, p. 2387-2398, 2014
- DOI for Substrate scope and selectivity in offspring to an enzyme subjected to directed evolution
Kinetic characterization of Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 alcohol dehydrogenase A

Hamnevik, Emil; Blikstad, Cecilia; Norrehed, Sara; Widersten, Mikael

Part of Journal of Molecular Catalysis B, p. 68-78, 2014
- DOI for Kinetic characterization of Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 alcohol dehydrogenase A
Stereoselective oxidation of aryl-substituted vicinal diols into chiral α-hydroxy aldehydes by re-engineered propanediol oxidoreductase

Blikstad, Cecilia; Dahlström, Kärthe M.; Salminen, Tiina A.; Widersten, Mikael

Part of ACS Catalysis, p. 3016-3025, 2013
- DOI for Stereoselective oxidation of aryl-substituted vicinal diols into chiral α-hydroxy aldehydes by re-engineered propanediol oxidoreductase
Structural and mechanistic studies of the orf12 gene product from the clavulanic acid biosynthesis pathway

Valegard, Karin; Iqbal, Aman; Kershaw, Nadia J.; Ivison, David et al.

Part of Acta Crystallographica Section D, p. 1567-1579, 2013
Structural and mechanistic studies of the orf12 gene product from the clavulanic acid biosynthesis pathway

Valegard, Karin; Iqbal, Aman; Kershaw, Nadia J.; Ivison, David et al.

Part of Acta Crystallographica Section D, p. 1567-1579, 2013
Structural and mechanistic studies of the orf12 gene product from the clavulanic acid biosynthesis pathway

Valegård, Karin; Iqbal, Aman; Kershaw, Nadia J.; Ivison, David et al.

Part of Acta Crystallographica Section D, p. 1567-1579, 2013
- DOI for Structural and mechanistic studies of the orf12 gene product from the clavulanic acid biosynthesis pathway
FtsZ degradation in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

Lopes Pinto, Fernando; Erasmie, Sven; Blikstad, Cecilia; Lindblad, Peter et al.

Part of Journal of plant physiology (Print), p. 1934-1942, 2011
- DOI for FtsZ degradation in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120
Functional characterization of a stereospecific diol dehydrogenase, FucO, from Escherichia coli: substrate specificity, pH dependence, kinetic isotope effects and influence of solvent viscosity

Blikstad, Cecilia; Widersten, Mikael

Part of Journal of Molecular Catalysis B, p. 148-155, 2010
- DOI for Functional characterization of a stereospecific diol dehydrogenase, FucO, from Escherichia coli: substrate specificity, pH dependence, kinetic isotope effects and influence of solvent viscosity
Emergence of a novel highly specific and catalytically efficient enzyme from a naturally promiscuous glutathione transferase

Blikstad, Cecilia; Shokeer, Abeer; Kurtovic, Sanela; Mannervik, Bengt

Part of Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, p. 1458-63, 2008
- DOI for Emergence of a novel highly specific and catalytically efficient enzyme from a naturally promiscuous glutathione transferase

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