Chlorobium tepidum
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Chlorobium tepidum
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bactera; Chlorobi; Chlorobia; Chlorobiales; Chlorobiaceae
Species
Chlorobaculum; Chlorobium tepidum
Description and significance
Cholobium tepidum is an anaerobic phototrophic bacterium that is also a thermophile. As a member of the Chlorobiaceae family, it is a model organism of green sulfur bacteria. The habitats of this bacterium include anoxic and sulfide-rich waters, mud, sediments, microbial mats, and even microbial consortia. The cells of this bacterium are gram-negative nonmotile rods of varying lengths that photooxidize reduced sulfur compounds. C. tepidum was isolated from certain acidic high sulfide New Zealand hot springs. Under photoautotrophic conditions, the growth rate of this bacterium is faster than any other anaerobic phototroph as generations are produced about every two hours. Consequently, it is an ideal candidate for studying photosynthesis and autotrophy in green bacteria.
Genome structure
The genome of C. tepidum has been completely sequenced. Its genome is one circular DNA molecule that consists of 2,154,946 basepairs. Through genome comparisons, it has been identified that many genes in C. tepidum are highly conserved among photosynthetic species, and though they have no clear function, they may play important roles in photosynthesis or photobiology.
Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
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Pathology
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Application to Biotechnology
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Current Research
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References
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano
