Heliobacteria are a unique subset of bacteria that process light for energy. Distinguishable from other phototrophic bacteria, they utilize a unique photosynthetic pigment, bacteriochlorophyll g and are the only known Gram-positive phototroph. They are a key player in symbiotic nitrogen fixation alongside plants, and use a type I reaction center like green-sulfur bacteria.

RNA trees place the heliobacteria among the Bacillota. The primary pigment involved is bacteriochlorophyll g, which is unique to the group and has a unique absorption spectrum; this gives the heliobacteria their own environmental niche. Phototrophic processes take place at the cell membrane, which does not form folds or compartments as it does in purple bacteria. Though heliobacteria are phototrophic, they can create energy without light using pyruvate fermentation, which generates significantly less energy than it could with light.

Heliobacteria are photoheterotrophic, requiring organic carbon sources, and they are exclusively anaerobic. hot springs, soda lakes and are common in the waterlogged soils of paddy fields.

Taxonomy

Heliobacteria should not be confused with Helicobacter, which is a genus of bacteria with quite different characteristics.

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

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! colspan=1 | 16S rRNA based LTP_10_2024

! colspan=1 | 120 marker proteins based GTDB 10-RS226

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See also

  • List of bacterial orders
  • List of bacteria genera

References

Further reading

  • Gest H & Favinger J L (1983) Arch Microbiol 136:11-16.
  • Madigan M T (1992) In Balows et al. (eds) The Prokaryotes pp. 1981–1992 Springer New York.
  • Madigan M T & Ormerod J G (1995) In Blankenship et al. (eds) Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria pp 17–30. Kluwer Academic Publishers New York.
  • Ormerod J G et al. (1996) Arch Microbiol 165:226-234.
  • Madigan M T, Martinko J M, Dunlap P V, Clark D P. (2009). Brock Biology of Microorganisms 12th edition, p. 453-454
  • Heinnickel M & Golbeck J H (2007) Photosynthesis Research 92:35-53