Herbert, R.A., Gall, A., Maoka, T., Cogdell, R.J., Robert, B., Takaichi, S. and Schwabe, S. (2008) Phototrophic purple sulfur bacteria as heat engines in the South Andros Black Hole. Photosynthesis Research, 95(2-3), pp. 261-268. (doi: 10.1007/s11120-007-9246-1)
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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11120-007-9246-1
Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms normally endeavor to optimize the efficiency of their light-harvesting apparatus. However, here we describe two bacterial isolates belonging to the genera <i>Allochromatium</i> and <i>Thiocapsa</i> that demonstrate a novel adaptation by optimizing their external growth conditions at the expense of photosynthetic efficiency. In the South Andros Black Hole, Bahamas, a dense l-m thick layer of these anoxygenic purple sulfur bacteria is present at a depth of 17.8 m. In this layer the water temperature increases sharply to 36°C as a consequence of the low-energy transfer efficiency of their carotenoids (ca. 30%). These include spirilloxanthin, and related polyene molecules and a novel chiral carotenoid identified as spirilloxanthin-2-ol, not previously reported in purple bacteria. To our knowledge, this study presents the first evidence of such a bacterial mass significantly increasing the ambient water temperature. The transduction of light to heat energy to excess heat may provide these anoxygenic phototropic bacteria with a competitive advantage over non-thermotolerant species, which would account for their predominance within the microbial layer.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Cogdell, Professor Richard |
Authors: | Herbert, R.A., Gall, A., Maoka, T., Cogdell, R.J., Robert, B., Takaichi, S., and Schwabe, S. |
Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences |
Journal Name: | Photosynthesis Research |
ISSN: | 0166-8595 |
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