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Genus of bacteria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oscillatoria is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria. It is often found in freshwater environments.[1] Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other to position the colony to face a light source.[2] Oscillatoria uses photosynthesis to survive and reproduce. Each filament of Oscillatoria consists of a row of cells called a trichome. The tip of the trichome oscillates like a pendulum.
| Oscillatoria | |
|---|---|
| |
| Oscillatoria princeps | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Cyanobacteria |
| Class: | Cyanophyceae |
| Order: | Oscillatoriales |
| Family: | Oscillatoriaceae |
| Genus: | Oscillatoria Vaucher ex Gomont, 1822 |
| Type species | |
| Oscillatoria princeps Vaucher ex Gomont | |
| Species | |
|
See list in body text | |
Reproduction takes place asexually by fragmentation. Usually the filament breaks into a number of fragments called hormogonia. Each hormogonium consist of one or more cells and grows into a filament by cell division in one direction.[1]
As a result of recent genetic analyses, several new genera were erected from this genus, e.g. Tenebriella.[3]
Oscillatoria are the subject of research into the natural production of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT),[4] an antioxidant, food additive, and industrial chemical.
Cyclic peptides called venturamides, which may have anti-malarial activity, have been isolated from bacteria in this genus. They are the first peptides with this activity to have been found in cyanobacteria.[5]
Serinolamide A is a cannabinoid structurally related to Anandamide that has been found to occur in Oscillatoria species.[6]
Oscillatoria contains the following species:[7]
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