Heterocysts or heterocytes are specialized nitrogen-fixing cells formed during nitrogen starvation by some filamentous cyanobacteria, such as Nostoc, Cylindrospermum, and Anabaena. [1] . They fix nitrogen from dinitrogen (N 2) in the air using the enzyme nitrogenase, in order to provide the cells in the filament with nitrogen for biosynthesis. [2]

Heterocysts are modified vegetative cells and the most distinctive cyanobacterial cells. They are enlarged cells with thick cell walls and are pale yellow in color (Fig. 2). Heterocysts are specialized nitrogen-fixing cells, produced by some filamentous cyanobacteria, which form during nitrogen starvation conditions.

Ø Heterocysts are specialized nitrogen-fixing cells in certain filamentous Cyanobacteria or Blue Green Algae (BGA) such as Nostoc, Anabaena and Cylindrospermum. Ø Heterocyst of cyanobacteria is a unique structure with unique properties and they are quite distinguishable from the vegetative cells.

Heterocyst – Introduction. Multicellular creatures can have more diversified and efficient structures, activities, and behaviours than unicellular ones. Heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria are a good model for studying cellular differentiation and multicellular pattern creation among multicellular prokaryotes.

Heterocysts are differentiated cells specialized in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) that do not perform oxygenic photosynthesis. You might find these chapters and articles relevant to this topic. Pratika Singh, ... Amrita Srivastava, in Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology, 2020.

Heterocysts are specialized cells that differentiate in the filaments of heterocystous cyanobacteria. Their role is to maintain a microoxic environment for the nitrogenase enzyme during diazotrophic growth.

2025年1月14日 · Heterocysts are unique cellular structures, larger than neighboring vegetative cells, with a thickened cell wall that creates an anaerobic environment necessary for the nitrogenase enzyme. The glycolipid and polysaccharide layers …

Heterocysts are the only cells that express nif (nitrogen fixation) genes and synthesize nitrogenase in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. Heterocysts do not evolve oxygen themselves (photosystem II (PSII) activity is absent or restricted) but a functional photosystem provides ATP.

Heterocysts are microaerobic, N2-fixing cells that form in a patterned array within O2-producing filamentous cyanobacteria. Structural features of heterocysts can be predicted from consideration of their physiology.

Particularly efficient nitrogen fixers are found among the filamentous species that have specialized cells called heterocysts. The heterocysts are thick-walled cell inclusions that are impermeable to oxygen; they provide the anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment necessary for the operation of the nitrogen-fixing enzymes.