Developmental Regulation of the Cell Division Protein FtsZ in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120, a Cyanobacterium Capable of Terminal Differentiation

Heterocysts are terminally differentiated cells devoted to nitrogen fixation in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. We show here that the cell division protein FtsZ is present in vegetative cells but undetectable in heterocysts. These results provide a first rational explanation for the inability of mature heterocysts to undergo cell division.