Open AccessAmmonium (methylammonium) transport by heterocysts and vegetative cells of Anabaena variabilis
Author(s) -
Shehawy Rehab M,
Kleiner Diethelm
Publication year - 1999
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.1574-6968.1999.tb08859.x
Subject(s) - heterocyst , anabaena variabilis , ammonium , cyanobacteria , anabaena , nitrogenase , botany , biophysics , plasmodesma , ammonia , nitrogen fixation , biology , chemistry , nitrogen , biochemistry , cell wall , bacteria , genetics , organic chemistry
Transport of the ammonium analogue [ 14 C]methylammonium was similar in non‐growing, fully differentiated heterocysts as compared to vegetative, multiplying cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis . NH 4 + inhibited uptake into the cells and released accumulated methylammonium from the cells. These observations suggest that the main function of ammonium transport in heterocysts may not be NH 4 + acquisition but cyclic retention of ammonia produced by nitrogenase.