Publication Date:
2022-01-14
Description:
Rho.do.ci'sta Gr. neut. n. rhodon, rose; L. fem. n. cista a basket; N.L. fem. n. Rhodocista, red basket.
Proteobacteria / Alphaproteobacteria / Rhodospirillales / Azospirillaceae / Rhodocista
Rhodocista centenaria is a well-characterized thermotolerant, phototrophic purple bacterium growing optimally at a temperature of 40–45°C and a maximal growth temperature of 48°C. Under low nutrient conditions, Rhodocista forms desiccation-, heat-, and UV-resistant cysts, which enable survival under severe drought and salt stress. Cells are motile by a single polar flagellum in liquid culture but in addition form lateral flagella on agar surfaces and under these conditions may show a characteristic phototactic movement. Rhodocista species grow under photoheterotrophic conditions and also are able to perform a chemotrophic aerobic metabolism. They encode enzymes for autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation and fixation of dinitrogen, although autotrophic growth has so far not been demonstrated. In the type species, bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis occurs under both aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions. Aerobically grown cells are fully pigmented. In other species, oxygen may inhibit photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis, and aerobically grown cells are colorless.
DNA G + C content (mol%): 68.8–69.9 (Tm), 70.5 (WGS).
Type species: Rhodocista (Rcs.) centenaria Kawasaki et al. 1992, VL48 (basonym: Rhodospirillum centenum Favinger et al. 1989, VL48).
Type:
Book chapter
,
NonPeerReviewed
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