Open AccessDevelopmental genetics and symbiotic potential of cyanobacteria
Author(s) -
Ivan Khudyakov
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
èkologičeskaâ genetika
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.148
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2411-9202
pISSN - 1811-0932
DOI - 10.17816/ecogen10429-39
Subject(s) - cyanobacteria , heterocyst , biology , symbiosis , biological dispersal , chloroplast , evolutionary biology , gene , ecology , bacteria , genetics , anabaena , population , demography , sociology
Many cyanobacteria can differentiate specialized cells – heterocysts that fix nitrogen aerobically, akinetes able to survive under unfavorable conditions, and hormogonia providing a means of dispersal. Of great importance for evolution of the biosphere was the ability of cyanobacteria to establish symbioses with eukaryotic organisms that was a prerequisite for the emergence of chloroplasts. This review describes the genes and regulatory systems that control differentiation of specialized cells and the ability of cyanobacteria to establish symbiotic associations with a variety of hosts.