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Akinetes: Dormant Cells of Cyanobacteria

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Dormancy and Resistance in Harsh Environments

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Genetics ((TCG,volume 21))

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are an ancient and morphologically diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes, which were the first to evolve oxygenic photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria are widely distributed in diversed environments. In the case of members of the orders Nostocales and Stigonematales, their persistence and success were attributed to their ability to form specialized cells: heterocysts, capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and spore-like cells, the akinetes. This review focuses on akinetes of Nostocales, emphasizing environmental triggers and cellular responses involved in differentiation, maturation, dormancy, and germination of these resting cells. Morphological and structural changes, variation in akinete composition, and metabolism are summarized. Special attention is given to the genetic regulation of the differentiation process in an attempt to close gaps in our understanding of the dormancy phenomenon in cyanobacteria and to identify open questions for future research.

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Acknowledgment

Our work was supported by a EU-NEST program project No 12674 “sleeping beauty” (AS, OH), by BMBF/MOST program project No WT803/2316 (OH AS JR), and by US-NIH SCORE grant 5S06GM048680 (MLS). We thank Dr. R. Reinhardt and Dr. M. Kube from Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin for their guidance and support with the molecular analysis of A. ovalisporum genome. We wish to thank two anonymous reviewers who contributed to the improvement of an earlier version by their constructive comments and suggestions.

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  1. Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, 447, Migdal, 14950, Israel

    Ruth N. Kaplan-Levy, Ora Hadas & Assaf Sukenik

  2. Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA, 91330-8303, USA

    Michael L. Summers

  3. Department of Fresh Water Conservation, Brandenburg University of Technology – Cottbus, Seestrasse 45, Bad Saarow, 15526, Germany

    Jacqueline Rücker

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  1. Ruth N. Kaplan-Levy
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Correspondence to Assaf Sukenik .

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  1. Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Re, Haifa, 31080, Israel

    Esther Lubzens

  2. Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Center of Aquaculture, IRTA Institut de Recerca i, Ctra. Poble Nou km 6, San Carlos de la Rapita, 43540, Spain

    Joan Cerda

  3. , Ecosystems, British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom

    Melody Clark

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Kaplan-Levy, R.N., Hadas, O., Summers, M.L., Rücker, J., Sukenik, A. (2010). Akinetes: Dormant Cells of Cyanobacteria. In: Lubzens, E., Cerda, J., Clark, M. (eds) Dormancy and Resistance in Harsh Environments. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 21. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12422-8_2

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