CHARACTERIZATION OF AKINETE DIFFERENTIATION IN THE CYANOBACTERIUM ANABAENA-AZOLLAE

Differentiation of akinetes was investigated in the filamentous cyanob acterium Anabaena azollae Stras. In this organism all pre-existing veg etative cells are capable of developing into akinetes. Standard sporul ation medium (SSM) was used to synchronously induce the formation of a kinetes, while cultures in Alien and Amen (AA/8) medium were used as c ontrols. This paper describes the changes in photosynthetic pigments a nd total soluble proteins in these cultures over a 25-day period encom passing akinete differentiation. Heterocyst frequencies and nitrogenas e activity were also monitored during the same period in both media. S DS-PAGE results indicated that specific proteins were synthesized in a manner correlated with akinete differentiation. The results demonstra te that in cultures undergoing akinete development, some of the photos ynthetic pigments are maintained, nitrogen-fixation and heterocyst dif ferentiation are suppressed, and the cells synthesize a variety of spe cific proteins.