Abstract
A kind of cyanobacteria in a spiral trichome shape, Spirulina platensis was fragmentated by mechanical agitation, sonication, freeze-thawing or freeze-drying. Mechanical agitation fragmentated trichomes, the size of which decreased with increasing the cutting power. Since the optimum size of trichome for growth (2-6pitch length) was obtained by mechanical agitation, destruction by this mode can be useful to increase the efficiency for the mass production of Spirulina sp. In the case of sonication, cells were destructed completely. It was indicated that can be used for biotechnological production of fine chemicals from Spirulina sp. Freeze-thawing and freeze-drying methods caused an injury to spiral trichomes and cells, and the fragmentation was easily done. We also examined the utility of these cells as competent cells for gene transfer and the possibility of the ^<31>P NMR measurment of intracellular ATP concentration, by the use of fragmentated cells.
