The slr1192 (adhA) gene from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 encodes a member of the medium-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase family. The gene product AdhA exhibits NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase activity, acting on a broad variety of aromatic and aliphatic primary alcohols and aldehydes but not on secondary alcohols or ketones. It exhibits superior catalytic efficiency for aldehyde reduction compared to that for alcohol oxidation. The enzyme is a cytosolic protein present in photoautotrophically grown Synechocystis cells. The expression of AdhA is enhanced upon the exposure of cells to different environmental stresses, although it is not essential for survival even under such stress conditions. The induction of the expression of the adhA gene is dependent on the Hik34-Rre1 two-component system, as it is severely impaired in mutant strains lacking either the histidine kinase Hik34 or the response regulator Rre1. In vitro DNA-protein interaction analysis reveals that the response regulator Rre1 binds specifically to the promoter region of the adhA gene.

The protein AdhA from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis) has been previously reported to show alcohol dehydrogenase activity towards ethanol and both NAD and NADP. This protein is currently being used in genetically modified strains of Synechocystis capable of synthesizing ethanol showing the highest ethanol productivities. In the present work, mutant strains of Synechocystis lacking AdhA have been constructed and tested for tolerance to ethanol. The lack of AdhA in the wild-type strain reduces survival to externally added ethanol at lethal concentration of 4% (v/v). On the other hand, the lack of AdhA in an ethanologenic strain diminishes tolerance of cells to internally produced ethanol. It is also shown that light-activated heterotrophic growth (LAHG) of the wild-type strain is impaired in the mutant strain lacking AdhA (∆adhA strain). Photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic growth are not affected in the mutant strain. Based on phenotypic characterization of ∆adhA mutants, the possible physiological function of AdhA in Synechocystis is discussed.

Two-component systems have been extensively described in the control of gene expression in response to different environmental signals in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The Hik34-Rre1 two-component system has been shown to regulate a set of genes under certain stress conditions. Some evidence indicates that another histidine kinase, probably Hik2, is acting upstream of Rre1 in the regulation of some genes in response to hyperosmotic and salt stress. In the present study, a mis-annotation of the Rre1 protein has been identified and the correct version has been functionally characterized in vitro. By using EMSA assays, we have demonstrated that phosphorylation of Rre1 by Hik2 increases the affinity of the response regulator for the adhA promoter region, a gene that has been demonstrated previously to be specifically regulated by the Hik34-Rre1 system. These results suggest that Hik2 might cooperate with Hik34 in the regulation of the adhA gene by transferring the phosphoryl group to Rre1 under salt and hyperosmotic stress conditions.

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Activated carbon is a highly porous material that is gaining interest nowadays in different sectors due to its strong adsorption capacity. Although it can be manufactured from very diverse feedstock, vegetable carbon and coal have been the most widely used raw materials. The increasing market demand and the encouragement of practices for the transition to the circular economy have promoted the use of wastes for the manufacturing of activated carbon. A significant part of the activated carbon currently in the market is produced from coconut shells, but wastes from a variety of sources are the subject of intense research. The number and variety of agricultural wastes tested as precursors of activated carbon is enormous, especially due to their high lignocellulose content. This review is focused on the use of almond shells as feedstock for the production of high-quality activated carbon.