Nostoc flagelliforme

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Nostoc flagelliforme

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Cyanobacteria; Cyanophyceae; Nostocales; Nostocaceae

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Nostoc flagelliforme

Description and significance

Nostoc flagelliforme, one type of blue-green alga, lives in a specific niche with highly varying temperatures, low rainfall, and limited nutrients, but under such conditions it thrives in colonial filaments or alone as single, free-living cells. Its adaptability to its erratic environment is what makes it an intriguing and useful organism. It can be found in arid and semiarid locations within Algeria, China, the former Czechoslovakia, France, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Russia, Somalia, and the United States. In N. flagelliforme’s typical habitat, the changes in temperature from just night to day can be extreme. In Yongden, of the Gansu Province in China, temperatures from night to day differed by 11.0-16.4 degrees Celsius during the summer months. These conditions are important in demonstrating the adaptability of the organism; however; N. flagelliforme’s greatest survival tool may be its ability to desiccate in high temperatures and light exposure for months to even years, and then to recover full photosynthetic activity within hours or days, depending on its surroundings. [2]

It is also important to note that N. flagelliforme is a terrestrial organism. Cultivating in a laboratory environment has proven difficult, if not impossible, for extended periods of time. Aquatic cultures of the organism, such as those used in the lab, may result in altering the chemical and physical properties of the sheath that surrounds its colonies from that grown in the wild. This difference in colonial sheath may be the cause of early disintegration of the sheath and cells by other bacteria. The sheath is presumed to be important for creating a more constant environment around N. flagelliforme colonies, including the capability of retaining water. Disintegration of the sheath as happens in the lab appears to be the cause of colony death. [3]

Genome structure

Unfortunately there is very little genomic data on Nostoc flagelliforme, but the few proteins that have been documented help to support the more widely distributed claims about the organism. Superoxide dismutase is a protein that has been found in the genome of N. flagelliforme at the locus ABR01632. It is 200 amino acids in length, and it is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of superoxides radicals to hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen. The presence of this protein shows us that the organism uses oxygen as a final electron acceptor during respiration. [7]

One other protein found in N. flagelliforme is putative neutral trehalase. This protein is found at the ABO31436 locus and is 469 amino acids long. It serves to aid in the protection of other proteins and membranes against stresses such as heat shock. This protein demonstrates the strong survivability and adaptability of the organism. [8]

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[1] Komárek, J., Kling, H. & Komárková, J. "Filamentous Cyanobacteria". Freshwater Algae of North America. (Wehr, J.D. & Sheath, R.G. Eds), pp. 177-196. San Diego: Academic Press.

[2] Qiu, B., and Gao, K. "Photosynthetic characteristics of the terrestrial blue-green alga, Nostoc flagelliforme". European Journal of Phycology. 2001. Volume 36. pp. 147-156.

[3] Gao, K., and Ye, C. "Culture of the terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme (Cyanophyceae), under aquatic conditions". Journal of Phycology. 2003. Volume 39. pp. 617-623.

[4] Qiu, B., and Gao, K. "Dried field populations of Nostoc flagelliforme (Cyanophyceae) require exogenous nutrients for their photosynthetic recovery". Journal of Applied Phycology. 1999. Volume 11. pp. 535-541.

[5] Kanekiyo, K., Hayashi, K., Takenaka, H., Lee, J.B., and Hayashi, T. "Anti-herpes simplex virus target of an acidic polysaccharide, nostoflan, from the edible blue-green alga Nostoc flagelliforme". Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2007. Volume 30. pp. 1573-1575.

[6] Yi, Z.W., Huang, H., Kuang, T.Y., and Sui S.F. "Three-dimensional architecture of phycobilisomes from Nostoc flagelliforme revealed by single particle electron microscopy". FEBS Letters. 2005. pp. 3569-73.

[7] Wang, Y., Chen, L.-P., Chen, X., Zhang, X., Yu, J. and Wang, Q.-X. "Cloning and expression of the gene which encodes SOD of Nostoc flagelliforme in E. coli". Unpublished.

Edited by Adam Northrup, student of Rachel Larsen