Baeocytes in the cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurocapsa</Emphasis> sp.: Characterization of the differentiated cells produced by multiple fission

Electron microscopy of cyanobacterium Pleurocapsa sp. CALU 1126 revealed that multiple fission proceeds by successive binary fissions. The cultivation conditions were determined when the number of baeocytes (products of multiple fission) was comparable with that of macrocytes (products of binary fission), and cell sorting was achieved for the first time. Juvenile baeocytes were shown to differ from macrocytes in: (1) the absence of sheath; (2) the linear-peripheral configuration of their lamellar system; (3) lower content of phycobiliproteins and higher content of carotenoids; (4) the set of PSII polypeptides. Baeocytes can therefore be considered differentiated cells characterized by the uncoupling between energy and biosynthetic metabolism.