CHROMATIN MORPHOLOGY AND CYTOKINESIS IN PLEUROCAPSALEAN CYANOBACTERIA
A. V. Pinevich,1 O. V. Gavrilova, S. G. Averina
Research Institute of Biology of St. Petersburg University;
1 e-mail: Pinevich.A@mail.ru
By means of differential interference contrast (DIC) and fluorescence microscopy, chromatin morphology
and cytokinesis have been described in the cyanobacterium Pleurocapsa sp. CALU 1126 capable of multiple
fission (multiple reproduction of the mother cell, the macrocyte, with formation of unique reproductive cells, the
baeocytes). Two kinds of chromatin behavior have been revealed in the cell cycle: 1) the formation of numerous
chromatin areas before their compartmentalization by multiple fission; 2) chromatin condensation in the phase
of binary fission, and chromatin decondensation in growth period. The cytokinetic essence of multiple fission
has been shown to consist of successive binary fissions of the macrocyte, while in between the mother cells
(prebaeocytes) do not grow.
Key words: cyanobacteria, fission, baeocytes, chromatin, fluorescence microscopy, DNA
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