heterocysts
/ˈhɛtərəˌsɪsts/
noun
- Specialized, thick-walled cells found in some filamentous cyanobacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen.
- The cyanobacteria form heterocysts at regular intervals along the filament.
- Heterocysts protect the nitrogen-fixing enzyme from oxygen.
- Scientists study heterocysts to understand how bacteria convert nitrogen into a usable form.