Abstract
Five branched heterocystous cyanobacteria (Scytonematopsis sp.,Scytonema sp.,Tolypothrix ceylonica, Mastigocladus sp. andFischerella sp.) were examined for their pattern of induction of nitrogenase activity andnif gene organization. All the forms showed the onset of nitrogenase activity after 12 h which could be correlated with the appearance of proheterocysts. The highest activity was exhibited byT. ceylonica. Hybridization studies revealed the presence of thenifD gene but the absence of thexisA gene inMastigocladus sp. andScytonematopsis sp. Interestingly,Tolypothrix sp. andScytonema sp. DNA samples hybridized withxisA. Hence no uniformity seems to exist regarding the presence ofxisA and the relatednif gene organization in branched heterocystous cyanobacteria. This investigation throws light on the primitive character and phylogenetic relatedness of branched forms to the coccoid/colonial forms. It also provides evidence for the proposition that stigonematacean cyanobacteria may not represent the most advanced cyanobacterial forms; rather they may link the coccoid and filamentous forms.
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Prasanna, R., Kaushik, B.D. Nitrogen fixation andnif gene organization in branched heterocystous cyanobacteria: Variation in the presence ofxisA . Folia Microbiol 40, 176–180 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02815418
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02815418