What does heterocyst mean?
Definitions for heterocyst
ˈhɛt ər əˌsɪsthet·e·ro·cyst
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word heterocyst.
Did you actually mean heterozygote or heterozygosity?
Webster Dictionary
Heterocystnoun
a cell larger than the others, and of different appearance, occurring in certain algae related to nostoc
Etymology: [Hetero- + cyst.]
Wikidata
Heterocyst
Heterocysts are specialized nitrogen-fixing cells formed during nitrogen starvation by some filamentous cyanobacteria, such as Nostoc punctiforme, Cylindrospermum stagnale, and Anabaena sphaerica. They fix nitrogen from dinitrogen in the air using the enzyme nitrogenase, in order to provide the cells in the filament with nitrogen for biosynthesis. Nitrogenase is inactivated by oxygen, so the heterocyst must create a microanaerobic environment. The heterocysts' unique structure and physiology require a global change in gene expression. For example, heterocysts: ⁕produce three additional cell walls, including one of glycolipid that forms a hydrophobic barrier to oxygen ⁕produce nitrogenase and other proteins involved in nitrogen fixation ⁕degrade photosystem II, which produces oxygen ⁕up-regulate glycolytic enzymes ⁕produce proteins that scavenge any remaining oxygen ⁕contain polar plugs composed of cyanophycin which slows down cell-to-cell diffusion Cyanobacteria usually obtain a fixed carbon by photosynthesis. The lack of photosystem II prevents heterocysts from photosynthesizing, so the vegetative cells provide them with carbohydrates, which is thought to be sucrose. The fixed carbon and nitrogen sources are exchanged through channels between the cells in the filament. Heterocysts maintain photosystem I, allowing them to generate ATP by cyclic photophosphorylation.
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of heterocyst in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of heterocyst in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Translations for heterocyst
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- heterocystUrdu
Get even more translations for heterocyst »
Translation
Find a translation for the heterocyst definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"heterocyst." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/heterocyst>.
Discuss these heterocyst definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In