The kinetics of the light-induced redox changes of the photosystem 1 (PS 1) primary donor P(700) in whole cells of the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were studied by the electron paramagnetic resonance method. It was shown that the linear photosynthetic electron transport in cyanobacteria was controlled by two main mechanisms: (i) oxygen-dependent acceleration of electron transfer from PS 1 to NADP(+) due to activation of the Calvin cycle reactions and (ii) retardation of electron flow between two photosystems governed by a transmembrane proton gradient. In addition to the linear photosynthetic electron transport, cyanobacteria were capable of maintaining alternative pathways involving cyclic electron transfer around PS 1 and respiratory chains.