Nostoc sp. PCC 7120

Nostoc_sp.
Names Nostoc sp. PCC 7120
Accession numbers NC_003240, NC_003241, NC_003267, NC_003270, NC_003272, NC_003273, NC_003276
Background Anabaena provides a model for the study of gene differentiation in the formation of heterocysts. The resent sequencing of the genome of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is yet another step towards understanding this process.The genome of the circular chromosome of the PCC 7120 strain of anabaena has been sequenced. It contains 1 chromosome with 6,413,771 base pairs with 5,368 predicted protein-coding regions, and six plasmids ranging form 408,101 base pairs to 5,584 base pairs. The sequencing of the anabaena genome will aid researchers in studying the genetics and physiology of cellular differentiation, (as exhibited in the heterocycsts of anabaena) pattern formation, and nitrogen fixation.Anabaena are heterocyst-forming, photoautotrophic cyanobacteria that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. Anabaena grow in long filaments of vegetative cells. During times of low environmental nitrogen, about one cell out of every ten will differentiate into a heterocyst. Heterocysts then supply neighboring cells with fixed nitrogen in return for the products of photosynthesis, that they can no longer perform. This separation of functions is essential because the nitrogen fixing enzyme in heterocysts, nitrogenase, is unstable in the presence of oxygen.Due to the necessity of keeping nitrogenase isolated from oxygen, heterocysts have developed elements to maintain a low level of oxygen within the cell. To prevent the entrance of oxygen into the cell, the developing heterocyst builds three additional layers outside the cell wall, giving it its characteristic enlarged and rounded appearance, thus the rate of oxygen diffusion into heterocysts is 100 times lower than of vegetative cells. To lower the amount of oxygen within the cell, the presence of photosystem II is eliminated, and the rate of respiration is stepped up to use up excess oxygen. It is commonly accepted that cyanobacteria played a key role in the manufacturing of oxygen during the Precambrian period of earth's history. They perform oxygenic photosynthesis, very similar to that of eukaryotic plants and algae, by utilizing water as a reductant source, consequently producing molecular oxygen. Heterocysts, mentioned above, are terminally differentiated cells that specialize in nitrogen fixation. It is believed that the capacity for developing heterocysts first developed when the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere (largely produced by cyanobacteria) reached levels high enough to cause the inactivation of the nitrogen-fixing enzyme nitrogenase.The mechanism of cellular differentiation, or the gene that initiates heterocyst formation has been the focus of much research. To date researchers have found two genes that control both the initiation of heterocyst formation and the frequency of differentiated cells. The product of the hetR gene is required for heterocyst differentiation and is only transcribed in differentiating cells. The patS gene regulates the frequency at which cells develop into heterocysts, or essentially inhibits heterocyst formation. The two genes work very differently as evidenced when studying cells carrying mutant genotypes. Cells with mutant hetR genes do not differentiate at all, where as cells with mutant patS genes differentiate too often. Conversely, cells that carry extra copies of the hetR gene differentiate additional heterocysts, and cells with extra copies of the patS gene do not differentiate at all. (From http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Nostoc) (MicrobeWiki: Nostoc)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Cyanobacteria
Class:NA
Order:Nostocales
Family:Nostocaceae
Genus:Nostoc
Species:7120
Strain PCC 7120
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (02-MAY-2001) The First Laboratory for Plant Gene Research, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Yana 1532-3, Kisarazu,
(03-DEC-2001) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site fresh water
Isolation country USA
Number of replicons 7
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Filamentous
Mobility Yes
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements Aerobic
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat Multiple
Biotic relationship Symbiotic
Host name NA
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation NA
Metabolism Nitrogen fixation
Energy source NA
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity No