heterocyst

American  

[het-er-uh-sist] / ˈhɛt ər əˌsɪst /

noun

Bacteriology.

1. one of the enlarged nitrogen-fixing cells occurring along the filaments in some cyanobacteria.

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Etymology

Origin of heterocyst

First recorded in 1870–75; hetero- + cyst

Example Sentences

Identify four modifications of vegetative cells, either by their addition to or omission from the heterocyst.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In environments with abundant fixed nitrogen, loss of the hetR gene should induce heterocyst development.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In an environment with low fixed nitrogen, treating the Anabaena cells with a calcium- binding compound should prevent heterocyst differentiation.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Decreasing the concentration of free calcium ions will prevent heterocyst development.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

This enzyme functions only under anaerobic conditions that are, in part, enforced by an O2 barrier surrounding the cytoplasm of the heterocyst, as shown below.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022