Modeling the fitness consequences of a cyanophage-encoded photosynthesis gene.
BACKGROUND: Phages infecting marine picocyanobacteria often carry Wooden Plaque a psbA gene, which encodes a homolog to the photosynthetic reaction center protein, D1.Host encoded D1 decays during phage infection in the light.Phage encoded D1 may help to maintain photosynthesis during the lytic cycle, which in turn could bolster the production of d