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An Overview of Purple Bacteria: Systematics, Physiology, and Habitats

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The Purple Phototrophic Bacteria

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 28))

Summary

Anoxygenic phototrophic purple bacteria are a major group of photosynthetic microorganisms widely distributed in nature, primarily in aquatic habitats. Nearly 50 genera of these organisms are known and some have become prime model systems for the experimental dissection of photosynthesis. Purple sulfur bacteria differ from purple nonsulfur bacteria on both metabolic and phylogenetic grounds, but species of the two major groups often coexist in illuminated anoxic habitats in nature. Purple sulfur bacteria are strong photoautotrophs and capable of limited photoheterotrophy, but they are poorly equipped for metabolism and growth in the dark. By contrast, purple nonsulfur bacteria, nature’s preeminent photoheterotrophs, are capable of photoautotrophy, and possess diverse capacities for dark metabolism and growth. Several purple bacteria inhabit extreme environments, including extremes of temperature, pH, and salinity. Collectively, purple bacteria are important phototrophs because they (1) consume a toxic substance, H2S, and contribute organic matter to anoxic environments by their autotrophic capacities; (2) consume organic compounds, primarily non-fermentable organic compounds, in their roles as photoheterotrophs; and (3) offer scientists in the photosynthesis community a smörgasbord of molecular diversity for the study of photosynthesis.

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Abbreviations

BChl:

bacteriochlorophyll

LH:

light-harvesting

Rba.:

Rhodobacter

Rcy.:

Rhodocyclus

Rfx.:

Rhodoferax

Rps.:

Rhodopseudomonas

Rsp.:

Rhodospirillum

Tch.:

Thermochromatium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Michael T. Madigan & Deborah O. Jung

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  1. Michael T. Madigan
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  2. Deborah O. Jung
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Correspondence to Michael T. Madigan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sheffield, UK

    C. Neil Hunter

  2. University of Pennsylvania, USA

    Fevzi Daldal

  3. Argonne National Laboratory, USA

    Marion C. Thurnauer

  4. University of British Columbia, Canada

    J. Thomas Beatty

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Madigan, M.T., Jung, D.O. (2009). An Overview of Purple Bacteria: Systematics, Physiology, and Habitats. In: Hunter, C.N., Daldal, F., Thurnauer, M.C., Beatty, J.T. (eds) The Purple Phototrophic Bacteria. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 28. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8815-5_1

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