Cyanobacteria in Ocean

Abstract

An important turning point in the Earth’s surface’s geochemical history may be seen with the appearance of cyanobacteria, which were widespread towards the end of the Pre-Cambrian. Marine cyanobacteria are not only an important source of atmospheric oxygen, but they are also prolific manufacturers of secondary metabolites, frequently in spite of having incredibly small genomes. These organisms create a wide variety of complex secondary metabolites, including pigments, fluorescent dyes, and physiologically active substances of particular interest to the pharmaceutical sector. A diverse phylum of nitrogen-fixing, photo-oxygenic bacteria with the ability to colonize a variety of settings is known as cyanobacteria. Aside from their primary function as diazotrophs, they also produce a large number of bioactive compounds, frequently as secondary metabolites, with a variety of biological and ecological activities that should be further studied. Of all the species that have been found, cyanobacteria are able to coexist in marine habitats in symbiotic partnerships with creatures like sponges, invertebrates. It has been shown that these symbioses significantly alter the physiology of cyanobacteria and cause the synthesis of bioactive chemicals that are typically not produced. In fact, an exchange of infochemicals causes metabolic alterations in cyanobacteria involved in symbiotic relationships and activates pathways that have been shut. Studies on drug discovery have shown that these compounds have intriguing biotechnological possibilities. This chapter reviews the importance of cyanobacteria in ocean and their economic importance, and future prospects.