Molecular Structure, Biosynthesis and Photoreversibility of Cyanobacteriochromes

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are important photoreceptors in cyanobacteria that respond to ultraviolet to infrared light, thus affecting photochemical behavior of cyanobacteria. Via covalently binding phycobilin with conservative cysteine in GAF (cGMP phosphodiesterase, adenylyl cyclase and FhlA domain) of the N-terminal, CBCRs exhibit photosensitive biological functions. The present review summarizes the molecular structure, biosynthesis and mechanisms of photoreversibility, and prospects for future research of CBCRs based on latest research progress.