Rhodospirillum rubrum
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Rhodospirillum rubrum
Classification
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Alphaproteobacteria; Rhodospirillales; Rhodospirillaceae; Rhodospirillum; Rhodospirillum rubrum
Higher order taxa
Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Rhodospirillum rubrum
Description and significance
Found in mud, pond water, & sewage DOES NOT infect humans or animals Mesophile, optimum temperature 25-30 C Gram-negative, mostly unsaturated, some saturated fats in cell wall Has multilayered outer envelops Complex pigments call “Carotenoid” and “BacteriocholophyII” are found in relatively large particles called “Chromatophores” which gives the bacteria it’s distinctive color. Electron microscopy revel that the “Chromatophore” are flatten disk Purple colored under anaerobic conditions, Colorless in aerobic Carotenoids give purple-red color they help in light absorption for photosynthesis Found in invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane Polarly Flagellated Spiralla Length 3-10 um, Width 0.8-1.0 um Facultative anaerobe Can use alcoholic fermentation or aerobic respiration Photosynthesis is active under anaerobic conditions, but is genetically suppressed in the presence of O2 O2 is not a byproduct of photosynthesis, sulfur is Can grow autotrophically or heterotrophically when phototrophic Oxidizes carbon monoxide Can use sulfide (AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS) as an electron donor in CO2 reduction Contains no chlorophyll a (absorption spectra 430-662) contains chlorphyll b (absorption spectra 660-680 nm) and bacteriochlorophylls (800-925 nm) advantageous to use more energy of electromagnetic spectra Nitrogen fixing bacteria Converts atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia N2 --(nitrogenase)--> NH4+ Biotech uses Consumption Source of animal food and agricultural fertilizer Biological plastic production from precursors of poly-hydroxy-butric-acid Biological hydrogen fuel (evolution of nitrogenase) Vitamin production Academia Model system of light to chemical energy conversion and for nitrogen fixation pathways Subject of radiation resistance studies Cell free systems including photosynthesis and ATP synthesis
Genome structure
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Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.
Pathology
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Current Research
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Cool Factor
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References
Edited by student of Iris Keren
