A cold-regulated cyanobacterial gene cluster encodes RNA-binding protein and ribosomal protein S21.

A cold-regulated gene cluster, rbpA-rpsU, was isolated by differential screening in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis M3. The two genes were co-transcribed as a 900 nt transcript. The level of this transcript was 5-10 times higher in cells grown at 22 degrees C than in those grown at 38 degrees C. The RbpA protein, which was homologous to plant glycine-rich proteins, exhibited a strong affinity to RNA from this cyanobacterium.