Open AccessSuperoxide dismutase in vegetative cells, heterocysts and akinetes of Anabaena cylindrica Lemm
Author(s) -
Grilli Caiola M.,
Canini A.,
Galiazzo F.,
Rotilio G.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04654.x
Subject(s) - heterocyst , nitrogenase , superoxide dismutase , anabaena , cyanobacteria , biology , chemistry , enzyme , biochemistry , botany , nitrogen fixation , bacteria , genetics
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assayed in vegetative cells, heterocysts and akinetes of Anabaena cylindrica Lemm. The iron‐containing isoenzyme (Fe‐SOD) was in all cases predominant over the manganese‐containing isoenzyme (Mn‐SOD). Differentiated cells maintained the same relative content of the two enzymes as in vegetative cells. However, heterocysts and akinetes contained only 20 and 35%, respectively, of the total SOD activity present in vegetative cells. Both Mn‐SOD and Fe‐SOD activities increased in all types of cells isolated from A. cylindrica grown at high light intensity. The increase of SOD in heterocysts paralleled that of nitrogenase, suggesting a role of SOD in the protection mechanism of nitrogenase.