Mutants of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 lacking alr1690 and alpha-furA antisense RNA show a pleiotropic phenotype and altered photosynthetic machinery.

Fur proteins are global regulators present in all prokaryotes. In Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 FurA controls iron uptake and modulates an important set of genes related primarily to photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and oxidative stress defense.