The effects of immobilization on the biochemical, physiological and morphological features of Anabaena azollae

Anabaena azollae, a presumptive isolate from Azolla filiculoides, was immobilized in polyurethane foam, hydrophilic polyvinyl foam and alginate. When viewed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy a thick mucilage layer covered the surface of both cells and matrix; this closely resembles the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Planta 1987-11, Vol.172 (3), p.298-308
Main Authors: Shi, D.-J., Brouers, M., Hall, D.O., Robins, R.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alginates
Bacteria
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Cellular metabolism
Cyanobacteria
Foams
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrogen
Hydrogen production
Immobilized cells
Metabolism. Enzymes
Microbiology
Quaternary ammonium compounds
Symbiosis
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Summary:Anabaena azollae, a presumptive isolate from Azolla filiculoides, was immobilized in polyurethane foam, hydrophilic polyvinyl foam and alginate. When viewed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy a thick mucilage layer covered the surface of both cells and matrix; this closely resembles the mode of attachment of the symbiont Anabaena in the Azolla leaf cavity. The heterocyst frequency of the immobilized A. azollae doubled relative to free-living cells and reached a level of 14—17%. Immobilization induced increases in both hydrogen production via nitrogenase or hydrogenase and in the rates and stabilization of acetylene reduction (N2-fixation). Ammonia production by immobilized cells with L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine (MSX) is greater than that of free-living cells. Immobilized cells without MSX were, however, able to excrete ammonium at lower rates thus emulating the characteristic of the symbiotic cyanobacteria (A. azollae) in the leaf cavity of Azolla.
ISSN:0032-0935
1432-2048
DOI:10.1007/BF00398658