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]

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.

Heterocyst structure and metabolic activity function together to accommodate the oxygen-sensitive process of nitrogen fixation. This article focuses on recent research on heterocyst development, including morphogenesis, transport of molecules between cells in a filament, differential gene expression, and pattern formation.

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.

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.

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.

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.