Cellular Differentiation of Sucrose Metabolism in Anabaena variabilis

Abstract

Upon treatment of whole filaments of Anabaena variabilis with a French pressure cell, the activity of sucrose synthase (U D P glucose; D-fructose 2-α-D-glucosyl transferase, E C 2.4.1.13) was found to be associated almost exclusively with the vegetative cells. The sucrose-cleaving enzyme, an alkaline invertase (ß-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.26), appears to be localized solely within the heterocysts. The implications of these findings, in the light of releva data from the literature, are summarized in a model representing the physiological differentiation and molecular exchange between vegetative cells and heterocysts. © 1985, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.