title: Cellular differentiation and the NtcA transcription factor in filamentous cyanobacteria.
abstract: Some filamentous cyanobacteria can undergo a variety of cellular differentiation processes that permit their better adaptation to certain environmental conditions. These processes include the differentiation of hormogonia, short filaments aimed at the dispersal of the organism in the environment, of akinetes, cells resistant to various stress conditions, and of heterocysts, cells specialized in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in oxic environments. NtcA is a transcriptional regulator that operates global nitrogen control in cyanobacteria by activating (and in some cases repressing) many genes involved in nitrogen assimilation. NtcA is required for the triggering of heterocyst differentiation and for subsequent steps of its development and function. This requirement is based on the role of NtcA as an activator of the expression of hetR and other multiple genes at specific steps of the differentiation process. The products of these genes effect development as well as the distinct metabolism of the mature heterocyst. The different features found in the NtcA-dependent promoters, together with the cellular level of active NtcA protein, should have a role in the determination of the hierarchy of gene activation during the process of heterocyst differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, E-41092 Seville, Spain. herrero@ibvf.csic.es
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Muro-Pastor
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flores
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018085:Regulon; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C075617:ntcA protein, Synechococcus; D009584:Nitrogen