HetP and its three homologues: regions necessary for function of HetP and requirement of homologues for fixation of nitrogen in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

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2013-08

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University of Hawaii at Manoa

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The filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a Gram-negative prokaryote that performs oxygenic photosynthesis. In addition to being an obligate phototroph, Anabaena is capable of differentiating specialized nitrogen-fixing cells called heterocysts. The development of terminally-differentiated heterocyst cells occurs in the absence of fixed nitrogen and forms a one-dimensional pattern along the filament of vegetative cells. The exchange of intercellular signals controls the regulated spacing of the heterocyst cells that on average arise every tenth cell along the filament (Figure 1). The formation of heterocyst cells effectively separates the oxygen-labile nitrogenase complex from oxygen-evolving photosynthesis that occurs in vegetative cells. Heterocysts and vegetative cells are mutually interdependent. Heterocyst cells lack photosystem II and the capacity to fix carbon and must rely on the vegetative cells for sources of reductant. In return, heterocysts supply the filament with fixed nitrogen (Cumino et al. 2007; Marcozzi et al 2009). The development of two distinct cell types in a simple one-dimensional pattern makes Anabaena a simple example of cellular differentiation and pattern formation.

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oxygen-evolving photosynthesis

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Theses for the degree of Master of Science (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Microbiology.

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