Abstract
Differentiation of akinetes was investigated in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae Stras. In this organism all pre-existing vegetative cells are capable of developing into akinetes. Standard sporulation medium (SSM) was used to synchronously induce the formation of akinetes, while cultures in Allen and Arnon (AA/8) medium were used as controls.This paper describes the changes in photosynthetic pigments and total soluble proteins in these cultures over a 25-day period encompassing akinete differentiation. Heterocyst frequencies and nitrogenase activity were also monitored during the same period in both media. SDS-PAGE results indicated that specific proteins were synthesized in a manner correlated with akinete differentiation. The results demonstrate that in cultures undergoing akinete development, some of the photosynthetic pigments are maintained, nitrogen-fixation and heterocyst differentiation are suppressed, and the cells synthesize a variety of specific proteins.
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Hardin, S.C., Fisher, R.W. Characterization of akinete differentiation in the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae . Current Microbiology 31, 265–269 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314578
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314578