Overexpression of a Na+/H+ antiporter confers salt tolerance on a freshwater cyanobacterium, making it capable of growth in sea water.

The salt tolerance of a freshwater cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942, transformed with genes involved in the synthesis of a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, betaine, catalase, and a chaperone was examined. Compared with the expression of betaine, catalase, and the chaperone, the expression of the Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene from a halotolerant cyanobacterium (ApNhaP) drastically improved the salt tolerance of the freshwater cyanobacterium. The Synechococcus cells expressing ApNhaP could grow in BG11 medium containing 0.5 M NaCl as well as in sea water, whereas those expressing betaine, catalase, and the chaperone could not grow under those conditions. The coexpression of ApNhaP with catalase or ApNhaP with catalase and betaine did not further enhance the salt tolerance of Synechococcus cells expressing ApNhaP alone when grown in BG11 medium containing 0.5 M NaCl. Interestingly, the coexpression of ApNhaP with catalase resulted in enhanced salt tolerance of cells grown in sea water. These results demonstrate a key role of sodium ion exclusion by the Na(+)/H(+) antiporter for the salt tolerance of photosynthetic organisms.