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A phylogenetic analysis of the purple photosynthetic bacteria

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Abstract

Seven species of purple photosynthetic bacteria have been characerized by oligonucleotide cataloging of their 16S ribosomal RNAs. The relationships so revealed among them do not agree well with their classical taxonomic classification. However, they are in agreement with those derived from comparative analysis of cytochromec sequences. Since the two macromolecules, rRNA and cytochromec, are functionally unrelated, the agreement between the two methods virtually rules out lateral gene transfer as the cause of either result. The patterns seen reflect the true genealogies of the organisms. The purple photosynthetic bacteria constitute a major phylogenetic unit—apparently as extensive as the Gram-positive bacteria—but a unit that is not phylogenetically isolated. Intermixed genealogically with these photosynthetic species are many classically recognized nonphotosynthetic Gram-negative organisms. A number of the latter have specific relatives within the photosynthetic cluster.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Jane Gibson

  2. Department of Genetics and Development, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Erko Stackebrandt, Lawrence B. Zablen, Ramesh Gupta & Carl R. Woese

Authors
  1. Jane Gibson
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  2. Erko Stackebrandt
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  3. Lawrence B. Zablen
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  4. Ramesh Gupta
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  5. Carl R. Woese
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Gibson, J., Stackebrandt, E., Zablen, L.B. et al. A phylogenetic analysis of the purple photosynthetic bacteria. Current Microbiology 3, 59–64 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02603136

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