Open AccessDevelopmental Regulation of the Cell Division Protein FtsZ in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120, a Cyanobacterium Capable of Terminal Differentiation
Author(s) -
Isabelle Kuhn,
Ling Peng,
Sylvie Bédu,
ChengCai Zhang
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.182.16.4640-4643.2000
Subject(s) - heterocyst , ftsz , biology , anabaena , cell division , microbiology and biotechnology , strain (injury) , cyanobacteria , cell , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria , anatomy
Heterocysts are terminally differentiated cells devoted to nitrogen fixation in the filamentous cyanobacteriumAnabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. We show here that the cell division protein FtsZ is present in vegetative cells but undetectable in heterocysts. These results provide a first rational explanation for the inability of mature heterocysts to undergo cell division.