SUBSTRUCTURE AND TAXONOMY OF RHODOPSEUDOMONAS GELATINOSA

The characterization of two sub-groups of the species Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa was continued. Differences in relation to generation time, slime production, tendency to conglomerate, utilization of substrates and the characteristics of the in vivo-absorption spectra are described. All strains liquefy gelatin and grow very well on aspartic acid as substrate in anaerobic light cultures and with a lower rate in aerobic dark cultures, too. The thylakoids (chromatophores) of Rps. gelatinosa are small and single arranged invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane. The low development of an intracellular membrane system in spite of a bacteriochlorophyll content of 10 to 25 μg BChl.1/mg protein suggests that the cytoplasmic membrane may be included in the system of the photosynthetic apparatus. All cells have a single polar flagellum. The use of data and methods for the identification of Athiorhodaceae is discussed. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.