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Abstract
The commonly used buffer HEPES was found to cause severe disintegration of the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica, as measured by filament breakage, cell disruption, phycocyanin release and nitrogenase inhibition. The effect became increasingly severe as the buffer concentration was increased above 10 mm. The observed cell damage does not appear to be unique to HEPES, similar observations being made with Tris/HCl, sodium phosphate, sodium sulphate and sodium chloride. It appears that the cells are very sensitive to ionic strength.
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© Society for General Microbiology 1983