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Piecing together the cyanobacteria puzzle
July 11, 2007LIVERMORE, Calif. -- Blue green algae are significant species in the global carbon cycle because they transform nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into a useable nutrient, enabling photosynthesis in nutrient-poor waters.
Using NanoSIMS (high- resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USC and Portland State University scientists showed that they could image and track nutrient uptake in blue green algae at the nanoscale. The new method should help to clear up the age-old puzzle of how different species of blue green algae can "fix" or take up atmospheric nitrogen and carbon in a single cell organism. Carbon fixation during photosynthesis produces oxygen, which inhibits nitrogen fixation.
Different species of blue green algae solve the problem in different ways and scientists still don't understand how some of the most important species can get both of these jobs done.
To develop the new method, the researchers studied the freshwater algae, Anabaena oscillarioides, which separates the two processes into adjacent cells that share the products. LLNL researchers Peter Weber, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Stewart Fallon and Ian Hutcheon used NanoSIMS to track the uptake and movement of carbon and nitrogen inside two types of cells in the algae: vegetative cells, which perform carbon fixation, and heterocysts, thick-walled relatives that pull in nitrogen.
NanoSIMS provides the ability to map distributions of elements and isotopes with 50-100-nanometer resolution. The device allowed the scientists to measure the carbon and nitrogen uptake and subsequent distribution at the cellular and subcellular level.
"The method shows the dynamics of resource uptake and redistribution down to the level of sub-micron nitrogen storage and cell wall formation during cell division," Weber said.
The researchers used stable isotope tracers in nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases to track nitrogen and carbon fixation. After a few hours of incubation, vegetative cells exhibited a large enrichment in carbon and nitrogen isotopes because of active carbon and nitrogen uptake and intercellular exchange. During photosynthesis, most of the newly fixed carbon was allocated to vegetative cells because they are rapidly dividing, while heterocysts require very little carbon because they are non-growing cells.
The NanoSIMS images showed that mature heterocysts are distinguishable from the vegetative cells based on their size, shape and intercellular distance.
The method also showed that newly fixed nitrogen levels are higher in vegetative cells than in mature heterocysts.
"We were able to see on a cell by cell basis how newly fixed nitrogen is rapidly exported from the heterocysts to vegetative cells, keeping pace with the nitrogen demands of the growing and dividing vegetative cells," Weber said. "Now we can take these results and apply them to poorly understood species."
USC's Kenneth Nealson predicts that NanoSIMS opens up a whole new field of study.
"You can use this technology to look at things going on inside the cell," he said. "This is going to change the way that we do a lot of microbiology."
The research appears in the latest issue of The International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal.
DOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
To develop the new method, the researchers studied the freshwater algae, Anabaena oscillarioides, which separates the two processes into adjacent cells that share the products. LLNL researchers Peter Weber, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Stewart Fallon and Ian Hutcheon used NanoSIMS to track the uptake and movement of carbon and nitrogen inside two types of cells in the algae: vegetative cells, which perform carbon fixation, and heterocysts, thick-walled relatives that pull in nitrogen.
NanoSIMS provides the ability to map distributions of elements and isotopes with 50-100-nanometer resolution. The device allowed the scientists to measure the carbon and nitrogen uptake and subsequent distribution at the cellular and subcellular level.
"The method shows the dynamics of resource uptake and redistribution down to the level of sub-micron nitrogen storage and cell wall formation during cell division," Weber said.
The researchers used stable isotope tracers in nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases to track nitrogen and carbon fixation. After a few hours of incubation, vegetative cells exhibited a large enrichment in carbon and nitrogen isotopes because of active carbon and nitrogen uptake and intercellular exchange. During photosynthesis, most of the newly fixed carbon was allocated to vegetative cells because they are rapidly dividing, while heterocysts require very little carbon because they are non-growing cells.
The NanoSIMS images showed that mature heterocysts are distinguishable from the vegetative cells based on their size, shape and intercellular distance.
The method also showed that newly fixed nitrogen levels are higher in vegetative cells than in mature heterocysts.
"We were able to see on a cell by cell basis how newly fixed nitrogen is rapidly exported from the heterocysts to vegetative cells, keeping pace with the nitrogen demands of the growing and dividing vegetative cells," Weber said. "Now we can take these results and apply them to poorly understood species."
USC's Kenneth Nealson predicts that NanoSIMS opens up a whole new field of study.
"You can use this technology to look at things going on inside the cell," he said. "This is going to change the way that we do a lot of microbiology."
The research appears in the latest issue of The International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal.
DOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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New images of marine microbe illuminate carbon and nitrogen fixation
Trichodesmium is unusual among marine microbes because it both "breathes" carbon dioxide like plants, while also taking nitrogen gas from the air and "fixing" it into a fertilizer of the seas.
Deep-sea rocks point to early oxygen on Earth
Red jasper cored from layers 3.46 billion years old suggests that not only did the oceans contain abundant oxygen then, but that the atmosphere was as oxygen rich as it is today, according to geologists.
Discovering the secret code behind photosynthesis
Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that an ancient system of communication found in primitive bacteria, may also explain how plants and algae control the process of photosynthesis.
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Cyanobacteria by Samit Ray (Author) The book entitled "Cyanobacteria" is an outcome of the author's twenty years experience in Algology . There is no such textbook or a reference book exclusively on this topic. Cyanobacteria is a group of organisms which have enormous evolutionary, ecological, economic and environmental significance specially with regard to human benefit. Naturally, it is very important to have a clear and in-depth knowledge about the various aspects of cyanobacterial origin, evolution, variations in morphology, ultrastructure, biochemistry, genetics, factors relating to cellular differentiation, enzyme synthesis, response to environmental variations (e.g., chromatic adaptation), ecological strategies of survival, production of toxins and benefits derived from these organisms for human benefit. |
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The Cyanobacteria: Molecular Biology, Genomics and Evolution by Antonia Herrero (Editor), Enrique Flores (Editor) |
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Kent 4oz Poly Ox Cyanobacteria & Organic Material Oxidizer by Kent Marine Poly Ox is an organic material oxidizer. It does not contain any algaecide. It assists in preventing growth of various cyanobacteria (commonly called red or blue-green slime algae) by simply removing their food source. It will oxidize leftover food, and dissolved and suspended organic matter. This will increase the water quality and provide a better environment for your fish and invertebrates! |
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CRC Handbook of Symbiotic Cyanobacteria by Amar Nath Rai (Author) In one convenient source, this ready reference brings together for the first time, all the information available on various cyanobacterial symbioses/symbiotic cyanobacteria. Comprehensive data on structure, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of the cyanobiont in various cyanobacterial symbioses is included. Aplied aspects such as use of Azolla in rice cultivation and artificial symbioses are addressed, along with a chapter dedicated to methodology. This informative new text is useful to researchers, teachers, and students. |
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NOW Foods Blue Green Algae 500 mg 180 VCaps by NOW Foods Blue-Green Algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) is a unique superfood harvested from the pristine Upper Klamath Lake in the Oregon Cascades. This nutrient-dense, freeze-dried, whole food concentrate contains full spectrum of easily digestible minerals. |
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Boyd Chemi-clean 3 Grams by Boyd Enterprises Cynobacteria is usually encouraged with the presence of nitrate and ammonia, which are both fixed forms of nitrogen. Chemi-clean helps clean and remove this problem algae through its own unique process. Most other red slime removers use purely antibiotics, namely erythromycin to take care of the algae. The use of such substances with in your aquarium can have disastrous effects upon your nitrifying bacteria and cause your tank to crash, killing the inhabitants of your aquarium.The use of chemi-clean not only as a problem solver, when red slime is present, but as a regular maintenance procedure will help keep your water crystal clear and your tank free of unwanted cynobacteria.For best results, turn off UV sterilizer or Ozonizer and Protein Skimmer. Remove Chemi-Pure or Carbon Filtration... |
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