Project name: Rhodobacter capsulatus

Description: Rhodobacter. Bacteria belonging to the Rhodobacter group are metabolically versatile as they are able to use photosynthesis and usually can grow under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Most are capable of nitrogen fixation.Rhodobacter capsulatus. This bacterium was previously known as Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. This organism is a facultatively phototrophic purple non-sulfur bacterium and the type species of the Rhodobacter group. The colony's color depends largely on the amount of oxygen present in its environment. While it is able to produce cellular energy in a number of different ways, it can rely on anoxygenic photosynthesis under anaerobic conditions in the presence of light. The formation of pigment protein complexes needed for these photosynthetic processes is only induced when the oxygen tension drops below a threshold value, hence the variable colony color. These bacteria are also capable of fixing nitrogen. Some strains produce the Gene Transfer Element (GTA), a pro-phage particle capable of transferring genetic material between strains.

Last updated: 2009-03-20