|
The purple sulfur bacteria or Chromatiaceae are a group of anaerobic or microaerophilic
photosynthetic Gram negative bacteria which express a variety of pigments, including yellow and red carotenoids and bacteriochlorophylls a and b which can
combine to form purple, red, brown, or orange colorations.
The bacteria are often found in sulfur springs and stagnant water.
They are alike in that they use hydrogen sulfide as a primary
electron donor, and the process of oxidation of hydrogen sulfide results in the
production of intracellular elemental sulfur granules. The oxidation of this elemental
sulfur to sulfuric acid is used for energy production.
Example species include Chromatium vinosum, Thispirillum jenense, and Thiopedia rosea.
See also: purple non-sulfur
bacteria
External links
|