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Biotechnology of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria

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Book cover Anaerobes in Biotechnology

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 156))

Abstract

Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse collection of organisms that are defined by their ability to grow using energy from light without evolving oxygen. The dominant groups are purple sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, and green and red filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. They represent several bacterial phyla but they all have bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids and photochemical reaction centers which generate ATP and cellular reductants used for CO2 fixation. They typically have an anaerobic lifestyle in the light, although some grow aerobically in the dark. Some of them oxidize inorganic sulfur compounds for light-dependent CO2 fixation; this ability can be exploited for photobiological removal of hydrogen sulfide from wastewater and biogas. The anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria also perform bioremediation of recalcitrant dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals under anaerobic conditions. Finally, these organisms may be useful for overexpression of membrane proteins and photobiological production of H2 and other valuable compounds.

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Abbreviations

BChl:

Bacteriochlorophyll

E 0′:

Standard reduction potential at pH 7 and 25 °C

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

FAP:

Filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs

GSB:

Green sulfur bacteria

PBR:

Photobioreactor

PNSB:

Purple nonsulfur bacteria

PSB:

Purple sulfur bacteria

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000, Helsingør, Denmark

    Niels-Ulrik Frigaard

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  1. Niels-Ulrik Frigaard
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Correspondence to Niels-Ulrik Frigaard .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry Center for Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Rajni Hatti-Kaul

  2. Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry Center for Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Gashaw Mamo

  3. Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry Center for Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Bo Mattiasson

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Frigaard, NU. (2016). Biotechnology of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria. In: Hatti-Kaul, R., Mamo, G., Mattiasson, B. (eds) Anaerobes in Biotechnology. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 156. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2015_5006

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