Transcriptional regulation of development in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

. 2019 Jul;1862(7):673-684.

doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2018.04.006. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

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Transcriptional regulation of development in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria

Enrique Flores et al. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech. 2019 Jul.

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Abstract

Filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria are among the simplest multicellular systems in Nature. In the absence of combined nitrogen, the filaments consist of vegetative cells that fix CO2 through oxygenic photosynthesis and micro-oxic heterocysts specialized for the fixation of N2 in a proportion of about 10 to 1. The development of a heterocyst-containing filament involves differentiation of vegetative cells into heterocysts in a process that requires a distinct gene expression program. Two transcription factors are strictly required, NtcA and HetR. The CRP-family protein NtcA directly activates the expression of multiple genes during heterocyst differentiation - in some cases assisted by coactivators including HetR - and in mature heterocysts, whereas HetR is needed to build high NtcA levels in differentiating heterocysts and directly activates some particular genes. A few other regulators of gene expression participate at specific differentiation steps, and a specific transcription factor, CnfR, activates nif gene expression under the micro-oxic conditions of the heterocyst.

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