Interactions of PatA with the Divisome during Heterocyst Differentiation in Anabaena

Abstract

Anabaena is a cyanobacterial model that represents an ancient and simple form of biological multicellularity. The Anabaena organism is a filament of cohesive and communicating cells that can include cells specialized in different tasks. Thus, under conditions of nitrogen scarcity, certain cells of the filament differentiate into heterocysts, which fix atmospheric nitrogen and provide organic nitrogen to the rest of cells, which, in turn, provide heterocysts with organic carbon. Heterocyst differentiation involves extensive morphological, biochemical, and genetic changes, becoming irreversible at a certain stage. We studied the regulation during heterocyst differentiation of several essential components of the Anabaena cell division machinery and found that protein PatA, which is required for differentiation and is induced in differentiating cells, interacts with essential cell division factors and destabilizes the cell division complex. This suggests a mechanism for establishment of commitment to differentiation by inhibition of cell division.