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Green & Purple Sulfur Bacteria
Green & Purple Sulfur Bacteria
The sulfur bacteria are anaerobic, photosynthetic organisms that metabolize sulfur. The green sulfur bacteria (Chlorobiota) are distantly related to the purple sulfur bacteria but dwell in similar habitats. They are often found in stratified water environments, including hot springs, stagnant water bodies, as well as microbial mats in intertidal zones. Some green sulfur bacteria have been found in deep sea vents called "black smokers"
Features
Features
Filamentous
Anaerobic
Photosynthetic
Use bacteriochlorophyll a as well as bacteriochlorophylls c, d, or e
Use hydrogen sulfide gas, instead of water, during the reduction process
2H2S (sulfide) + CO2 ---> CH2O (sugar)+ S2 (sulfur) + H2O
Thought to be the endosymbiont group for eukaryotes, and the origin of the mitochondria
Ecological Importance
Ecological Importance
Sulfur is abundant in nature, but plants can only use sulfate
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is toxic to aquatic flora and fauna
Sulfur anions (SO4+) can make inorganic salts, such as phosphorous, available to plants
Sulfate prevents excessive alkalinity from ammonia produced by microorganisms
Geologic Age
Geologic Age
Paleoproterozoic - present
Additional Reading
Additional Reading
Sulfur bacteria structurally unchanged in 1.8 billion years (PNAS 2014)
Origin of Bacteriochlorophyll a and the Early Diversification of Photosynthesis (PLOS One 2016)
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