Abstract

This project deals with the molecular mechanisms governing the differentiation of heterocysts, cells specialized for nitrogen fixation, in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena. For this purpose we have cloned and mapped genes coding for the structural components of nitrogenase and nitrogenase reductase; for glutamine synthetase; and for the large subunit of RuBP carboxylase. These cloned genes will be used to study the synthesis and degradation of their respective messages in vivo and as templates for transcription by purified Anabaena RNA polymerase in vitro. Related projects include characterization of proteases active in heterocyst differentiation and attempts to clone their genes.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM021823-13
Application #
3270715
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1978-05-01
Project End
1988-04-30
Budget Start
1987-05-01
Budget End
1988-04-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
225410919
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637

  Publications

Jones, Kathryn M; Buikema, William J; Haselkorn, Robert (2003) Heterocyst-specific expression of patB, a gene required for nitrogen fixation in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. J Bacteriol 185:2306-14
Jones, Kathryn M; Haselkorn, Robert (2002) Newly identified cytochrome c oxidase operon in the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 specifically induced in heterocysts. J Bacteriol 184:2491-9
Callahan, S M; Buikema, W J (2001) The role of HetN in maintenance of the heterocyst pattern in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Mol Microbiol 40:941-50
Buikema, W J; Haselkorn, R (2001) Expression of the Anabaena hetR gene from a copper-regulated promoter leads to heterocyst differentiation under repressing conditions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98:2729-34
Rouhiainen, L; Paulin, L; Suomalainen, S et al. (2000) Genes encoding synthetases of cyclic depsipeptides, anabaenopeptilides, in Anabaena strain 90. Mol Microbiol 37:156-67
Brandon, L; Dorus, S; Epstein, W et al. (2000) Modulation of KdpD phosphatase implicated in the physiological expression of the kdp ATPase of Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol 38:1086-92
Bauer, C C; Ramaswamy, K S; Endley, S et al. (1997) Suppression of heterocyst differentiation in Anabaena PCC 7120 by a cosmid carrying wild-type genes encoding enzymes for fatty acid synthesis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 151:23-30
Bauer, C C; Buikema, W J; Black, K et al. (1995) A short-filament mutant of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 that fragments in nitrogen-deficient medium. J Bacteriol 177:1520-6
Rouhiainen, L; Sivonen, K; Buikema, W J et al. (1995) Characterization of toxin-producing cyanobacteria by using an oligonucleotide probe containing a tandemly repeated heptamer. J Bacteriol 177:6021-6
Bauer, C C; Haselkorn, R (1995) Vectors for determining the differential expression of genes in heterocysts and vegetative cells of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. J Bacteriol 177:3332-6

Showing the most recent 10 out of 42 publications