The effect of DL-7-azatryptophan, an analogue of tryptophan, has been studied on the heterocyst spacing pattern and the probability of proheterocyst regression inAnabaena doliolum. 7-azatryptophan suppressed growth and induced heterocyst differentiation in nitrogen-free medium. In ammonium (1 mM), nitrite (2 mM) and nitrate (2 mM) supplemented media, it caused proheterocyst regression with a frequency of 100%, 35% and 10% respectively. The role of azatryptophan in nitrogen metabolism has been discussed in relation to ammonia-uptake study.

The effects of two amino acid analogues, viz., L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine and L-methyl-DL-methionine on growth, heterocyst differentiation and nitrogen fixation in the blue-green algaNostoc linckia have been studied with special reference to heterocyst spacing pattern. L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine strongly inhibited growth but produced an unusual number of heterocysts with changed heterocyst spacing pattern in both nitrogen-free and ammonium-containing media. L-methyl-DL-methionine was less effective than L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine. An attempt was also made to counteract the toxic effects of these analogues by supplying amino acids. Glutamine and methionine reversed the inhibitory effect of L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine while only methionine reversed the inhibitory effect of L-methyl-DL-methionine. Production of changed heterocyst spacing pattern in nitrogen-free and ammonium-containing media when supplemented with L-methionine-DL-sulphioximine suggests that ammonia may not be the inhibitor of heterocyst spacing pattern.

Intergeneric transfer of streptomycin-resistance marker from a unicellular blue-green algaAnacystis nidulans to a filamentous blue-green algaAnabaena doliolum was demonstrated. Mutants ofA. nidulans resistant to streptomycin, occurring spontaneously or mutagenically-induced could be isolated easily. Naturally occurring streptomycin-resistant mutants ofA. doliolum could not be detected. Attempts at isolating such mutants either in nitrogen-free medium or in nitrate containing medium were unsuccessful. However, a streptomycin-resistant strain (recombinant) ofA. doliolum could be isolated in a mixed culture of streptomycin-sensitiveA. doliolum and streptomycin-resistantA. nidulans.