Are there chloroplasts in gloeocapsa

Uptake of the nitrogen fixing blue-green algae Gloeocapsa into protoplasts of tobacco and maize. Department of Botany, University of Maryland. Oxford Academic. Google Scholar. Cite Cite A. Select Format Select format. Permissions Icon Permissions. Article PDF first page preview.

Issue Section:. You do not currently have access to this article. Download all slides. Sign in Don't already have an Oxford Academic account? You could not be signed in. Sign In Forgot password? Don't have an account? American Genetic Association members Sign in via society site. Sign in via your Institution Sign in. Purchase Subscription prices and ordering for this journal Short-term Access To purchase short term access, please sign in to your Oxford Academic account above.

This article is also available for rental through DeepDyve. View Metrics. Email alerts Article activity alert. A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Gloeocapsa magma. Gloeocapsa magma is a photosynthetic cyanobacteria consisting of a small group of algae spores [8].

These black stains are the bacteria themselves in mass amounts covering the surface of the roof shingles. Gloeocapsa magma has been around historically and up through the present, except only in the recent decades has it been considered to have detrimental effects worthy of prevention.

This cyanobacteria causes substantial destruction revolving around shingle decay and loss of reflective power. Also, the quality of the shingles slowly diminishes [10]. They have been found to curl up at the corners as well as form raised humps on the surface. This ultimately can result is broken or disintegrated shingles. In the long run, this has been known to increase air conditioning bills and lead to more frequent roof repair and reconstruction [8].

The main preventative strategy known to date is frequent annual roof cleanings using roof algae cleaners [2]. Installing copper or zinc strips along the roof boarder also inhibits bacterial growth by killing off new colony formation.

The genome of Gloeocapsa magma has not been specifically published online; however, all cyanobacteria have a common core genome [4]. A study revealed that different strains of cyanobacteria have a genome that lies at about 1.

The core of this genome contains around proteins known as cyanobacterial clusters of orthologous groups CyOGs [7]. Gloeocapsa magma has a single, circular, looping chromosome located in the nucleoid [6. The presence of plasmids in cyanobacteria has been discovered [9], yet the number of plasmids in Gloeocapsa magma has not really been determined.

Gloeocapsa magma is a gram negative, cocci shaped cyanobacteria that tends to cluster in groups [6]. It is green in color and known for its use of this green pigment called chlorophyll, located in thylakoids, as a photosynthetic pathway.

The only organelles in the cytoplasm of these bacteria are ribosomes. As a cyanobacteria, Gloeocapsa magma also takes part in the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen to other organic compounds [5]. Gloeocapsa magma spores are spread mainly by wind but also by animals and locate themselves on the north side of roofs where the lack of sunshine stimulates their growth and formation [10].

Now, most importantly, the bacteria need to find a food source to survive. The necessary nutrients needed come in the form of crushed limestone, which is used as a filler in roof shingles for support and strength. However, for Gloeocapsa magma , limestone is a superb source of key nutrients for colony growth.

With the moisture provided by lack of sunlight, and the perfect food source, these bacteria can then begin growth and reproduction, slowly taking over and covering the entire roof surface. Gloeocapsa magma grows best in humid environments where moisture is kept locked in.

Yet, when beams of sunlight hit the rooftops, this bacteria has a unique method for survival. This pigmented covering is what people see as black streaks covering house roofs. Over time, the bacteria will begin to die off and the black covering of the dead cells forms a stain on the roof that only increasingly gets worse over time. To continue their life cycle, colonies of Gloeocapsa magma dissociate into small groups of cells that can then be transported via wind or animals and relocated to a new site where growth and division will begin [6].

Gloeocapsa magma , as previously stated, inhabits the roofs of houses, feeding off of the limestone filler and the nutrients trapped in the moisture rich shingles [10]. The most beneficial habitat for this particular bacteria involves a humid, damp environment with little access to sunlight.