Novel Substrate (Algal Protein) for Cultivation of Rhodospirillum Rubrum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Novel Substrate (Algal Protein) for Cultivation of Rhodospirillum Rubrum Indian Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 49, October 2011, pp. 773-780 Novel substrate (algal protein) for cultivation of Rhodospirillum rubrum T M Vatsala*, R Rekha & R Srividhya Hydrolina Biotech (Pvt) Ltd, TICEL Biopark, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India Received 20 October 2010; revised 9 July 2011 Rhodospirillum rubrum was grown under light anaerobic conditions with phycocyanin (C-pc) extracted from Spirulina platensis as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. When grown under these conditions cellular components like lipids, carbohydrates, protein, carotenoids, bacteriochlorophyll were similar to the one grown with malic acid and ammonium chloride. Growth of R. rubrum increased with increase in concentration of C-pc (200 to 1000 mg/l). R. rubrum also utilized C-pc under dark anaerobic condition. With both malic acid and C-pc as carbon sources C-pc was consumed only after exhaustion of malic acid under light anaerobic condition. No aberration of cell morphology was seen under scanning electron microscope (SEM). R. rubrum utilized both phycocyanobilin and phycoprotein individually as well as in combination. When grown with 1000 mg/l of phycoprotein 450 mg/l of biomass was obtained, and with combination of phycocyanobilin (75 mg/l) and phycoprotein (925 mg/l) 610 mg/l of biomass was obtained. Phycocyanobilin alone did not inhibit the growth of R. rubrum. Utilization of C-pc with protease like activity was observed in plate assay. Protease like activity was also observed as zones around the colonies in plates containing sterilized casein, gelatin and filter sterilized bovine serum albumin. No amino acids were detected in the supernatant when analyzed with ninhydrin. Extracellular protease like activity was highest when C-pc was used as substrate (2.8 U/ml). Intracellular protease like activity was not detected in cell free extracts. Keywords: Algal protein substrate, Phototropic bacteria, Phycocyanobilin, Phycocyanin, Protease, Rhodospirillum rubrum Purple non-sulfur bacteria (Rhodospirillaceae) are the cellulose, cotton, silk cotton and condensed corn most studied diverse group of the phototrophic solubles for the growth of R. rubrum were bacteria (PTB). All species grow well under anaerobic demonstrated10-12. Aim of the present study was to conditions in the presence of light, and also have the evaluate the ability of R. rubrum to utilize C-pc a capacity to grow as facultative microaerophilic to potent antioxidant13 as a sole carbon source, and also aerobic chemo-organotrophs1-2. They are ubiquitous nitrogen for its growth and metabolism under both in nature and are abundantly in soil, fresh water lake light and dark anaerobic conditions. To the best of our etc. Rhodospirillum rubrum, a purple non-sulfur knowledge this is the first report on the utilization of a bacteria (PNSB) belonging to the proteobacteria of protein as the source of carbon and nitrogen for the the class C is unique due to the presence of a growth of R. rubrum. carotenoid spirilloxanthin. R. rubrum ATCC 11170 is a nitrogen fixer and can utilize a number of organic 3 Materials and Methods compounds for its growth and hydrogen production . CulturesSpirulina platensis was provided by The bacterium R. rubrum can also utilize alternative Hydrolina Biotech Private Limited (Chennai, India) as sources of carbon and nitrogen such as ethanol, amino a spray dried powder, and Rhodospirillum rubrum acids and lactic acid containing waste materials for its 4,5 ATCC 11170 was obtained from American Type growth and hydrogen production . Various other Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, Maryland, USA. sources including lactate, yoghurt, whey, cassava waste, and distillery effluent also have been used for Preparation of crude C-pc To 100 g dry powder hydrogen production by R. rubrum6-9. Use of unusual of S. platensis equal quantity of neutral alumina was sources such as microcrystalline cellulose, amorphous added, and the mixture was crushed in a mortar and pestle for 10 min at room temperature (26° ± 2°C). To __________________ this mixture 200 ml of sodium phosphate buffer (0.1 *Correspondent author M, pH 7.2) was added, and the mixture was kept Telephone: +91 44 24718155; Fax: +91 44 24717066 under static condition overnight at 4ºC. After this, the E-mail: [email protected] mixture was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min 774 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, OCTOBER 2011 using centrifuge (C24-BL) REMI at room temperature concentration (1000 mg/l) of 95% pure C-pc was (26° ± 2°C). The blue supernatant was collected. To tested in 50 ml serum bottle. R. rubrum was this, ammonium sulphate (60%) was added and stored inoculated at the as above mentioned concentration. at 4ºC over night, so as to obtain proteins. The Medium with C-pc without inoculum served as a mixture was centrifuged as above and the supernatant negative control. R. rubrum grown using malic acid was discarded. The pellet was suspended in 2.5 mM and ammonium chloride served as a positive control. sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and dialyzed using R. rubrum was also grown on a mixture of malic acid dialysis membrane (Himedia LA 390) with 3 KDA and C-pc (1000 mg/l each) added together. All molecular weight cut off using the same buffer for experiments were done in triplicates for 10 days with 48 h at 4ºC. This was defined as crude C-pc. Crude C- 12 h photoperiod at 26° ± 2ºC. Growth was studied pc absorbance spectrum was recorded on under dark anaerobic conditions also by wrapping the Spectrophotometer V-630 UV/Visible (Jasco Co., bottles with aluminium foil. Anaerobicity was Tokyo). Amount of C-pc was calculated using maintained by filling the bottles completely. following equation. Cleavage of phycocyanobilin from C-pcPhyco- 14 cyanobilin was cleaved from C-pc following standard PC concentration (mg/ml) = Optical density at 620 nm × 0.1429 17 procedure . Phycocyanobilin was added at increasing Microorganism and culture conditionsR. rubrum concentration ranging from 15, 30, 45, 60 and (ATCC 11170) was grown in Ormerod medium15 75 (mg/l) to the modified Ormerod medium without carbon and nitrogen source. Similarly phycoprotein containing per liter of deionized water, K2HPO4 (900 concentration ranging from 185, 370, 555, 740 and mg), KH2PO4 (600 mg), MgSO4 (200 mg), NH4Cl 925 mg/l was used in Ormerod medium without (100 mg), FeSO4 (12 mg), EDTA (18 mg), CaCl2 (75 carbon and nitrogen source. In yet another experiment mg) and trace metal solution H3BO3 (0.016 mg). both phycocyanobilin and phyco protein was added MnSO44H2O (2.80 mg), Na2MO4. 2H2O .(10 mg), together in the concentration (mg/l) 15 + 185, 30 + ZnSO4 (0.75 mg), CuSO4 (0.24 mg), Biotin (0.001 mg), with 1000 mg/l16 malic acid as a carbon source 370, 45 + 555, 60 + 740, 75 + 925 to the above and 100 mg/l ammonium chloride as a source of mentioned medium. Both served as a source of carbon nitrogen at 26° ± 2ºC in glass bottles stoppered with and nitrogen. R. rubrum was inoculated at the butyl rubber stopper and aluminium crimps, concentration of 60 (mg/l) of dry weight. Growth was illuminated with incandescent 4 X 60 W lamps studied on 0, 5 and 10 days with 12 h photoperiod at 26° ± 2ºC. (Philips) at a light intensity of 2,000-2,500 lux as measured by (LX-102) Lutron light meter, Taiwan. Sampling and analytical proceduresCultures Growth of bacteria was monitored by measuring (5 ml) of R. rubrum were removed aseptically using absorbance at 880 nm (λmax of bacteriochlorophyll) on sterile 5 ml syringe at 2 days interval over 10 days of UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Cells were harvested at period of cultivation. Cells were harvested as above. exponential phase by centrifuging at 10,000 rpm for Both the cells and the culture filtrate were scanned 10 min using centrifuge (C24-BL) REMI at room from 190-1100 nm on a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to temperature (26° ± 2°C), washed and re-suspended in check the growth of R. rubrum and for the presence of th 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.2). The unutilized C-pc. At the end of 10 day cells were concentration was adjusted to 60 (mg/l) dry weight harvested as above and the cells and culture filtrate for using as inoculum for further studies. were analyzed for the following parameters. Growth on C-pcStudies were carried out using Scanning electron microscopyHarvested cells crude C-pc and C-pc of 95% purity gifted by Dr. from malic acid and C-pc grown cultures were fixed Harish Kumar (University of Miyazaki, Japan) as the for SEM as per the procedure of Grekova-Vasileva 18 sole source of carbon and nitrogen for the growth of et al . A 0.2 ml of bacterial suspension was R. rubrum. From a filter sterilized stock solution of centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min. The supernatant 100 mg/ml of crude C-pc of 200, 400, 600, 800 and was discarded and the pellets were rinsed with sterile 1000 mg were pipetted out into bottles containing 1l distilled water for 30 sec, and then fixed for SEM by sterile modified Ormerod medium16 without carbon the following series of treatments: 2.5% glutaraldehyde and nitrogen source. Sterilization was done by (30 min); 0.15 M phosphate buffer (3 × 15 min); 50% autoclaving at 121°C for 20 min. Only one ethanol (1 × 15 min); 70 ethanol (1 × 15 min); 90% VATSALA et al.: NOVEL SUBSTRATE FOR CULTIVATION OF R. RUBRUM 775 ethanol (1 × 15 min) and 100% ethanol (3 × 15 min). Protease assay Specimens were dried and mounted on aluminum Substrate specificity, caseinExtracellular stubs and gold-coated for 1 min in a JEOL-JFC-1600 protease activity in the culture filtrate of R.
Recommended publications
  • Close Similarity to Functionally Unrelated Mitochondrial Cytochrome C (Photosynthetic Bacteria/Amino-Acid Sequence/Molecular Evolution) RICHARD P
    Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 472-475, February 1976 Biochemistry Primary structure determination of two cytochromes c2: Close similarity to functionally unrelated mitochondrial cytochrome c (photosynthetic bacteria/amino-acid sequence/molecular evolution) RICHARD P. AMBLER*, TERRANCE E. MEYERt, AND MARTIN D. KAMENt § * Department of Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, Scotland; tDepartment of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif. 92093; and *Chemical-Biological Development Laboratory, University of Southern Cai ornia, Los Angeles, Calif. 90007 Contributed by Martin D. Kamen, December 12,1975 ABSTRACT The amino-acid sequences of the cyto- We have been studying the amino-acid sequences of the chromes c2 from the photosynthetic non-sulfur purple bacte- Rhodospirillaceae cytochromes c2 and find that they can be ria Rhodomicrobium vannielii and- Rhiodopseudomonas viri- divided at present into at least two groups on the basis of the dis have been determined. Only a single residue deletion (at position 11 in horse cytochrome c) is necessary to align the number of insertions and deletions which must be postulated sequences with those of mitochondrial cytochromes c. The to align them with mitochondrial cytochrome c. One of overall sequence similarity between these cytochromes c2 these, which includes the proteins from Rps. palustris, Rps. and mitochondrial cytochromes c is closer than that between capsulata, Rps. spherotdes (R. P. Ambler, T. E. Meyer, R. G. mitochondrial cytochromes c and the other cytochromes c2 Bartsch, and M. D. Kamen, unpublished results, see ref. 13), of known sequence, and in the latter multiple insertions and as as R.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Rhodospirillum Rubrum Through Proteomics and Beyond
    Regulation of nitrogen fixation in Rhodospirillum rubrum Through proteomics and beyond Tiago Toscano Selão ©Tiago Toscano Selão, Stockholm 2010 ISBN 978-91-7447-125-0, pp 1 – 71 Printed in Sweden by US-AB, Stockholm 2010 Distributor: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Cover image: Three-dimensional rendering of the Gaussian peaks for a 2D-PAGE gel, generated using PDQuest 7.3.0. Dedicado aos meus pais e à memória dos meus avós. Publication list The work presented on this thesis is based on the following publications, referred to in the text by the corresponding Roman numerals: I – Selão, T. T. , Nordlund, S. and Norén, A. ”Comparative proteomic studies in Rhodospirillum rubrum grown under different nitrogen conditions”, J Prot Res , 2008, 7: p. 3267-75 II – Teixeira, P. F.*, Selão, T. T. *, Henriksson, V., Wang, H., Norén, A. and Nordlund, S. ”Diazotrophic growth of Rhodospirillum rubrum with 2-oxoglutarate as sole carbon source affects the regulation of nitrogen metabolism as well as the soluble proteome”, Res. Microb., 2010, in press III – Selão, T. T. , Branca, R., Lehtiö, J., Chae, P. S., Gellman, S. H., Rasmussen, S., Nordlund, S. and Norén, A. ”Identification of the chromatophore membrane complexes formed under different nitrogen conditions in Rhodospirillum rubrum ”, submitted IV – Selão, T. T. *, Teixeira, P. F.* and Nordlund, S. ”The activity of dinitrogenase reductase ADP-ribosyltransferase of Rhodospirillum rubrum is controlled through reversible complex formation with the PII protein GlnB”, manuscript V – Selão, T. T. , Edgren, T., Wang, H., Norén, A. and Nordlund, S. ”The effect of pyruvate on the metabolic regulation of nitrogenase activity in Rhodospirillum rubrum with darkness as switch-off effector”, submitted * Authors contributed equally Additional publications Vintila, S., Selão, T.
    [Show full text]
  • INFLUENCE of NITROGEN, ACETATE and PROPIONATE on HYDROGEN PRODUCTION from PINEAPPLE WASTE EXTRACT by Rhodospirillum Rubrum
    Journal of Water and Environment Technology, Vol.3, No.1, 2005 INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN, ACETATE AND PROPIONATE ON HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM PINEAPPLE WASTE EXTRACT BY Rhodospirillum rubrum Piyawadee Ruknongsaeng*, Alissara Reungsang**, Samars Moonamart*** and Paiboon Danvirutai** *Graduate College, Khon Kaen University A.Muang, Khon Kaen 40002 THAILAND E-mail: [email protected] **Fermentation for Value Added of Agricultural Products, Department of Biotechnology, Khon Kaen University A.Muang, Khon Kaen 40002 THAILAND E-mail: [email protected]; Correspondence author *** Department of Biotechnology, Khon Kaen University A.Muang, Khon Kaen 40002 THAILAND E-mail: [email protected] **Fermentation for Value Added of Agricultural Products, Department of Biotechnology, Khon Kaen University A.Muang, Khon Kaen 40002 THAILAND E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT This research examined the influence of nitrogen, acetate and propionate on hydrogen production from pineapple waste extract by photosynthetic bacteria strain Rhodospirillum rubrum in batch culture. The fermentation conditions used in this study were continuous illumination fermentation (24 hours of light) and periodic illumination fermentation (alternate 12 hours of light and dark). Two levels of total nitrogen (3 mM-low level and 11 mM-high level) with various initial concentrations of acetate or propionate (5, 10 and 20 mM) were added into the production medium. Results indicated that levels of total nitrogen did not affect the production of hydrogen. Neither acetate nor propionate
    [Show full text]
  • Unesco – Eolss Sample Chapters
    BIOTECHNOLOGY – Vol VIII - Essentials of Nitrogen Fixation Biotechnology - James H. P. Kahindi, Nancy K. Karanja ESSENTIALS OF NITROGEN FIXATION BIOTECHNOLOGY James H. P. Kahindi United States International University, Nairobi, KENYA Nancy K. Karanja Nairobi Microbiological Resources Centre, University of Nairobi, KENYA Keywords: Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Azorhizobium, Legumes, Nitrogen Fixation Contents 1. Introduction 2. Crop Requirements for Nitrogen 3. Potential for Biological Nitrogen Fixation [BNF] Systems 4. Diversity of Rhizobia 4.l. Factors Influencing Biological Nitrogen Fixation [BNF] 5. The Biochemistry of Biological Nitrogen Fixation: The Nitrogenase System 5.1. The Molybdenum Nitrogenase System 5.1.1. The Iron Protein (Fe protein) 5.1.2. The MoFe Protein 5.2. The Vanadium Nitrogenase 5.3. Nitrogenase-3 6. The Genetics of Nitrogen Fixation 6.1. The Mo-nitrogenase Structural Genes (nif H,D,K) 6.2. Genes for nitrogenase-2 (vnf H,D,G,K,vnfA,vnfE,N,X) 6.3. Regulation of Nif Gene Expression 7. The Potential for Biological Nitrogen Fixation with Non-legumes 7.1. Frankia 7.2. Associative Nitrogen Fixation 8. Application of Biological Nitrogen Fixation Technology 8.1. Experiences of the Biological Nitrogen Fixation -MIRCENs 8.2 Priorities for Action Glossary UNESCO – EOLSS Bibliography Biographical Sketches Summary SAMPLE CHAPTERS Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, yet it is frequently the limiting nutrient to agricultural productivity. This necessitates the addition of nitrogen to the soil either through industrial nitrogen fertilizers, which is accomplished at a substantial energy cost, or by transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into forms which plants can take up for protein synthesis. This latter form is known as biological nitrogen fixation and is accomplished by free-living and symbiotic microorganisms endowed with the enzyme nitrogenase.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Characterization of the Life Support Bacterium Rhodospirillum Rubrum S1H Cultivated Under Space Related Environmental Conditions
    Université de Mons-Hainaut Faculté des Sciences Service de Protéomie et Biochimie des Protéines Centre d'étude de l'Energie Nucléaire Unité de Microbiologie Molecular characterization of the life support bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H cultivated under space related environmental conditions Dissertation originale présentée par Felice Mastroleo en vue de l'obtention du grade de docteur en Sciences Directeur de thèse: Prof. R. Wattiez Co-directeur: Dr. Ir. R. Van Houdt (SCK•CEN) Janvier 2009 "De la Terre à la Lune". Jules Verne. Paris, 1865. REMERCIEMENTS Mes premiers mots seront pour honorer la mémoire du Dr. Larissa Hendrickx, qui m'a fait confiance, voici bientôt 5 ans, et m'a donné la chance de commencer cette aventure. Je tiens à remercier tout particulièrement les professeurs Ruddy Wattiez et Max Mergeay qui m'ont accueillit au sein de leur service respectif. Ils m'ont permis d'aborder un sujet captivant pour lequel mon intérêt ne s'est pas démenti, que du contraire, au cours de ces années. Leur emploi du temps surchargé ne les a pas empêché d'être là pour moi lorsque le besoin s'en faisait sentir, je leur en suis pour cela très reconnaissant. J'exprime également toute ma gratitude envers les Drs. Natalie Leys et Rob Van Houdt qui ont su reprendre le flambeau de leur prédécesseur avec panache et enthousiasme, malgré un contexte difficile. Leur soutien m'a été d'un grand secours. Je remercie également le SCK •CEN qui a permis le financement de cette thèse grâce à une bourse AWM. Un grand merci également à tous les membres du service de Protéomie et Biochimie des Protéines de l'UMH, ainsi qu'à tout le groupe de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du SCK•CEN.
    [Show full text]
  • Rhodospirillum Rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas Capsulata: Role in Nitrogenase Regulation DUANE C
    JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, Dec. 1979, p. 987-995 Vol. 140, No. 3 0021-9193/79/12-0987/09$02.00/0 Manganese, an Essential Trace Element for N2 Fixation By Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata: Role in Nitrogenase Regulation DUANE C. YOCH Department ofBiology, University ofSouth Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208 Received for publication 3 August 1979 Nitrogenase (N2ase) from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rub- rum can exist in two forms, an unregulated form (N2ase A) and a regulatory form (N2ase R), the latter being identified in vitro by its need for activation by a Mn2+_ dependent N2ase activating system. The physiological significance of this Mn2+- dependent N2ase activating system was suggested here by observations that growth of R. rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata on N2 gas (a condition that produces active N2ase R) required Mn2+, but growth on ammonia or gluta- mate did not. Manganese could not be shown to be required for the biosynthesis of either nitrogenase or glutamine synthetase or for glutamine synthetase turn- over, but it was required for the in vitro activation of N2ases from N2 and glutamate-grown R. rubrum and R. capsulata cells. Chromatium N2ase, in contrast, was always fully active and did not require Mn2+ activation, suggesting that only the purple nonsulfur bacteria are capable of controlling their N2ase activity by this new type of regulatory system. Although R. rubrum could not substitute Fe2+ for Mn2+ in the in vivo N2 fixation process, Fe2+ and, to a lesser extent, Co2, could substitute for Mn2+ in the in vitro activation of N2ase. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of buffer-washed R.
    [Show full text]
  • Identity of Rhodospirillum Centenum, a Unique Photosynthetic Bacterium
    Identity of Rhodospirillum centenum, a unique photosynthetic bacterium Key words: Rhodospirillum centenum: photosynthesis, phototaxis, cysts, thermotolerance, R bodies, taxonomy Howard Gest and Jeffrey Favinger Photosynthetic Bacteria Group, Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 e-mail: [email protected] Sequencing and analysis of the R. centenum genome are now in progress. Thus, it is timely to remind photosynthesis researchers of the history and identity of this extraordinary photosynthetic bacterium, especially because a misguided attempt to rename it has introduced some confusion in the literature. R. centenum was first isolated in our laboratory from an enrichment culture inoculated with a sample collected at Thermopolis Hot Springs, Wyoming. In 1987, the type strain (designated Favinger/Gest), was deposited in the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC no. 43720) and two years later, we published a description of its general and unique properties (Favinger et al. 1989). Morphology, spectrum of photopigments, general physiology, and nutritional requirements placed the bacterium in the genus Rhodospirillum. We named the organism Rhodospirillum centenum in recognition of the fact that it was discovered during the 100th anniversary of the isolation of a pure culture of an anoxyphototroph, Rhodospirillum rubrum. Our original report and subsequent papers (Stadtwald-Demchick et al. 1990; Ragatz et al. 1995) described the following unusual characteristics of R. centenum. (a) Under certain nutritional conditions, vegetative cells become converted to thick-walled cysts which are desiccation – and heat-resistant; (b) in contrast to virtually all other non- sulfur purple bacteria, the production of photopigments by R. centenum is not appreciably repressed by molecular oxygen; and (c) on agar, R.
    [Show full text]
  • Rhodospirillum Rubrum
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PubMed Central THE FINE STRUCTURE OF RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM GERMAINE COHEN-BAZIRE, Ph.D., and RIYO KUNISAWA From the Department of Bacteriology and the Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley ABSTRACT The fine structure of Rhodospirillum rubrum grown under a series of defined conditions has been examined in thin sections prepared by the methods of Ryter and Kellenberger. In ceils grown anaerobically at different light intensities, the abundance of 500 A membrane- bounded vesicles in the cytoplasm is inversely related to light intensity, and directly related to cellular chlorophyll content. When the chlorophyll content of the cell is low, the vesicles are exclusively peripheral in location; they extend more deeply into the cytoplasm when the chlorophyll content is high. Typical vesicles also occur, though rarely, in cells grown aerobically in the dark, which have a negligible chlorophyll content. When synthesis of the photosynthetic pigment system is induced in a population of aerobically grown cells by incubation under semianaerobic conditions in the dark, the vesicles become increasingly abundant with increasing cellular chlorophyll content, and the cells eventually acquire the cytoplasmic structure that is characteristic of cells growing anaerobically at a high light intensity. Poststaining with lead hydroxide reveals that the membranes surrounding the 500 A vesicles are indistinguishable in structure from the cytoplasmic membrane, and continuous with it in some areas of the sections. The bearing of these observations on current notions concerning the organization of the bacterial photosynthetic apparatus is discussed. INTRODUCTION The photosynthetic apparatus of purple bacteria don.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution of Rhodoquinone Rhodospirillaceae and Its Taxonomic
    J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol., 30, 435-448 (1984) DISTRIBUTION OF RHODOQUINONE IN RHODOSPIRILLACEAE AND ITS TAXONOMIC IMPLICATIONS AKIRA HIRAISHI ANDYASUO HOSHINO Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan (Received November 27, 1984) The rhodoquinone (RQ) composition was studied in representatives of 20 species of Rhodospirillaceae. Thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that six of the 20 test species contained RQ as a major quinone in average amounts of 0.28 to 2.22 umol per g dry weight of cells. The predominant homologue of RQ in the six species was as follows: RQ-8-Rhodospirillum photometricum and an unknown species resembling Rhodocyclus gelatinosus; RQ-9+ RQ-10-Rhodopila globi- formis; RQ-l0-Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas acidophila, and Rhodomicrobium vannielii. The taxonomic significance of RQ and other isoprenoid quinones is discussed in comparison with the new clas- sification system for the phototrophic bacteria recently proposed by IMHOFFet al. Isoprenoid quinones in eubacteria can be divided into two major structural groups, the benzoquinones and naphtoquinones represented by ubiquinone (Q) and menaquinone (MK), respectively. Some derivatives of Q and MK also occur in certain species. These lipoquinones play important roles in respiratory or photosynthetic electron transport in bacterial plasma membranes, and have been extensively studied not only from biochemical viewpoints but also in their taxo- nomic aspects (1, 2). Rhodoquinone (RQ) is a derivative of Q in which one of the methoxyl groups is replaced by an amino group (3, 4). This compound was first isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum by GLOVERand THRELFALL(5).
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Pure Infrared Light on the Growth of Rhodospirrilum Rubrum
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects Honors Program 5-2016 The Effect of Pure Infrared Light on the Growth of Rhodospirrilum rubrum Jordan Lee Wilkes Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors Part of the Biochemistry Commons, and the Chemistry Commons Recommended Citation Wilkes, Jordan Lee, "The Effect of Pure Infrared Light on the Growth of Rhodospirrilum rubrum" (2016). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 590. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/590 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE EFFECT OF PURE INFRARED LIGHT ON THE GROWTH OF RHODOSPIRRILUM RUBRUM by Jordan Lee Wilkes Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DEPARTMENTAL HONORS in Biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Approved: Thesis/Project Advisor Departmental Honors Advisor Dr. Scott A. Ensign Dr. Alvan Hengge Director of Honors Program Dr. Kristine Miller UT AH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT Spring 2016 Abstract Scientists who study aquatic ecosystems quickly notice a diversity of pathways that different microbes and organisms can use to metabolize nutrients found in common ponds or pools. Competition for vital resources, such as light and inorganic minerals, allow only certain organisms to grow in certain niches within these ecosystems. Rhodospirillum rubrum is a gram negative, photosynthetic bacteria that competes for light within aquatic ecosystems in order to survive.
    [Show full text]
  • Spaceflight Biology Experiments Have Been Deposited Into a Common Repository, NASA’S Genelab Data System (GLDS) (Genelab.Nasa.Gov)
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Meta-analysis of data from spacefight transcriptome experiments does not support Received: 17 July 2018 Accepted: 13 September 2018 the idea of a common bacterial Published: xx xx xxxx “spacefight response” Michael D. Morrison & Wayne L. Nicholson Several studies have been undertaken with the goal of understanding how bacterial transcriptomes respond to the human spacefight environment. However, these experiments have been conducted using a variety of organisms, media, culture conditions, and spacefight hardware, and to date no cross-experiment analyses have been performed to uncover possible commonalities in their responses. In this study, eight bacterial transcriptome datasets deposited in NASA’s GeneLab Data System were standardized through a common bioinformatics pipeline then subjected to meta-analysis to identify among the datasets (i) individual genes which might be signifcantly diferentially expressed, or (ii) gene sets which might be signifcantly enriched. Neither analysis resulted in identifcation of responses shared among all datasets. Principal Component Analysis of the data revealed that most of the variation in the datasets derived from diferences in the experiments themselves. Space travel inside human-rated spacecraf exposes living organisms to a number of stressors including micro- gravity, ionizing radiation, vibration, and altered atmospheric composition1. During the history of human space- fight, many studies have been performed in low-Earth orbit within the protection of Earth’s magnetic feld, to understand how spacefight factors, particularly microgravity, afect macroscopic organisms. As a result we have a fairly detailed mechanistic understanding of how humans2, animals3, and plants4 respond when exposed to microgravity. In contrast, we have a relatively poor understanding of how single-celled microorganisms respond to the microgravity environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetics of Rhodospirillaceae VENETIA A
    MICROBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, June 1978, p. 357-384 Vol. 42, No. 2 0146-0749/78/0042-0357$02.00/0 Copyright i 1978 American Society for Microbiology Printed in U.S.A. Genetics of Rhodospirillaceae VENETIA A. SAUNDERSt Department ofBiochemistry, University ofLiverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom TR ODU TION 357 PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS 358 EVOLUTIONARY CONSIDERATIONS ........................................ 358 STUDIES WITH MUTANTS ............................................ 359 Survey of Mutants of the Rhodospillae 359 Resistant mutants 359 Auxotrophs 359 Pigment mutants 359 Electron transfer mutants 361 Temperature-sensitive mutants 362 Morphological mutants ....................................... ..... 362 Miscellaneous mutants 362 Bacteriochlorophyll Biosynthesis and Related Phenomena .. ........ 362 Towards Elucidation of Electron Transport Systems ... ............. 364 GENETIC ORGANIZATION 366 EXTRACHROMOSOMAL DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID .367 Occurrence .367 Functions Evaluated 368 BACTERIOPHAGE AND BACTERIOCINS .369 Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage and Cyanophage .. 369 Bacteriocinogeny .370 "GENE TRANSFER AGENT"' OF RHODOPSEUDOMONAS CAPSULATA 371 Discovery and Properties 371 Mapping Genes for Bacteriochlorophyll and Carotenoid Biosynthesis ... 372 TRANSFORMATION 372 CONJUGATION 373 CONCLUDING REMARKS .374 LITERATURE CTED .375 INTRODUCTION laid on physiological processes of the photosyn- Photosynthetic bacteria have been effectively thetic bacteria which are amenable to investi- gation via the construction and subsequent
    [Show full text]