Fur from Microcystis aeruginosa binds in vitro promoter regions of the microcystin biosynthesis gene cluster

Microcystins are potent toxins produced by cyanobacteria under poorly understood environmental conditions. Fur is a transcriptional repressor involved in sensing iron availability and oxidative stress. Fur from Microcystis aeruginosa binds promoter regions of mcy gene cluster, suggesting that Fur might regulate the expression of genes involved in microcystin synthesis.