Permeabilization of isolated heterocysts of Anabaena sp. strain 7120 with detergent.

Heterocysts isolated from Anabaena sp. strain 7120 with lysozyme plus sonication were permeabilized with the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and they then exhibited comparable acetylene reduction activity in the light and dark with an ATP-regenerating system plus dithionite. The detergent diminished the effect of H2 in enhancing acetylene reduction.