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    Massive multiplication of genome and ribosomes in dormant cells (akinetes) of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Cyanobacteria)

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    Sukenik_et al ISME MBLWHOI_with_figures.pdf (759.7Kb)
    Date
    2011-08
    Author
    Sukenik, Assaf  Concept link
    Kaplan-Levy, Ruth N.  Concept link
    Mark Welch, Jessica L.  Concept link
    Post, Anton F.  Concept link
    Metadata
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    Citable URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5113
    As published
    https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2011.128
    Keyword
     Akinetes; Cyanobacteria; Dormancy; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Polyphosphate; Polyploidy; Laser microdissection microscopy 
    Abstract
    Akinetes are dormancy cells commonly found among filamentous cyanobacteria, many of which are toxic and/or nuisance, bloom-forming species. Development of akinetes from vegetative cells is a process that involves morphological and biochemical modifications. Here we applied a single cell approach to quantify genome and ribosome content of akinetes and vegetative cells in Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Cyanobacteria). Vegetative cells of A. ovalisporum were naturally polyploid and contained on average 8 genome copies per cell. However, the chromosomal content of akinetes increased up to 450 copies, with an average value of 119 genome copies per akinete, 15 fold higher that in vegetative cells. Based on fluorescence in situ hybridization with a probe targeting 16S rRNA and detection with confocal laser scanning microscopy we conclude that ribosomes accumulated in akinetes to a higher level than that found in vegetative cells. We further present evidence that this massive accumulation of nucleic acids in akinetes is likely supported by phosphate supplied from inorganic polyphosphate bodies that were abundantly present in vegetative cells, but notably absent from akinetes. These results are interpreted in the context of cellular investments for proliferation following long term dormancy, as the high nucleic acid content would provide the basis for extended survival, rapid resumption of metabolic activity and cell division upon germination.
    Description
    Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2011. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Nature Publishing Group for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in The ISME Journal 6 (2012): 670–679, doi:10.1038/ismej.2011.128.
    Collections
    • Josephine Bay Paul Center in Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution
    Suggested Citation
    Preprint: Sukenik, Assaf, Kaplan-Levy, Ruth N., Mark Welch, Jessica L., Post, Anton F., "Massive multiplication of genome and ribosomes in dormant cells (akinetes) of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Cyanobacteria)", 2011-08, https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2011.128, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5113
     

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