Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Chlorobiaceae

  • Review
  • Published:
Photosynthesis Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on phylogenetic relationships found according to gene sequences of the 16S rRNA and the FMO (Fenna–Matthews–Olson protein) genes, and supported by the G + C content of the DNA and sequence signatures, the strains and species of green sulfur bacteria have been grouped into a phylogenetic system. Since properties used previously for classification such as cell morphology, photosynthetic pigments and substrate utilization do not conform with their phylogeny, a reassignment of strains to species, and a rearrangement among the species were necessary. The comparison of the traditional classification system of these bacteria with their phylogenetic relationship yielded a confusing picture. As a consequence of this rearrangement, species of the green sulfur bacteria were classified into the genera Chlorobium, Chlorobaculum, Prosthecochloris, and Chloroherpeton. Strains were assigned to the species according to their phylogenetic similarity and a number of new combinations, and new species were defined. New isolates and also environmental gene sequences fit very well into the established groups or may form new species, some of which have been described and others are awaiting their description. New strains and available gene sequences are included into the phylogenetic system, and a taxonomic classification on the species level is proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Chl. :

Chlorobium

Ptc. :

Prosthecochloris

Pld. :

Pelodictyon

Chp. :

Chloroherpeton

Cba. :

Chlorobaculum

References

  • Alexander B, Andersen JH, Cox RP et al (2002) Phylogeny of green sulfur bacteria on the basis of gene sequences of 16S rRNA and of the Fenna–Matthews–Olson protein. Arch Microbiol 178:131–140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beatty JT, Overmann J, Lince MT et al (2005) An obligately photosynthetic bacterial anaerobe from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:9306–9310

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biebl H, Pfennig N (1978) Growth yields of green sulfur bacteria in mixed cultures with sulfur and sulfate reducing bacteria. Arch Microbiol 117:9–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brockmann H, Knobloch G, Schweer I et al (1973) Die Alkoholkomponente des Bacteriochlorophyll a aus Rhodospirillum rubrum. Arch Microbiol 90:161–164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant DA, Costas AMG, Maresca JA et al (2007) Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum: an aerobic phototrophic acidobacterium. Science 317:523–526

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Figueras JB, Garcia-Gil LJ, Abella CA (1997) Phylogeny of the genus Chlorobium based on 16S rDNA sequence. FEMS Microbiol Lett 152:31–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geitler L, Pascher A (1925) Cyanochloridinae-Chlorobacteriaceae. In: Pascher A (ed) Die Süßwasserflora Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz. Fischer, Jena, pp 451–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson J (2001) Genus III. Chloroherpeton. In: Boone DR, Castenholz RW (eds) The Archaea and the deeply branching and phototrophic Bacteria. Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1. Springer, New York, pp 612–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson J, Pfennig N, Waterbury JB (1984) Chloroherpeton thalassium gen nov. et spec. nov., a non-filamentous, flexing and gliding green sulfur bacterium. Arch Microbiol 138:96–101

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gloe A, Pfennig N, Brockmann H et al (1975) A new bacteriochlorophyll from brown-colored Chlorobiaceae. Arch Microbiol 102:103–109

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorlenko VM (1970) A new phototrophic green sulphur bacterium Prosthecochloris aestuarii nov. gen. nov. spec. Zeitschrift fur allgemeine Mikrobiologie 10:147–149

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorlenko VM (1972) Phototrophic brown sulfur bacteria Pelodictyon phaeum nov. sp. Mikrobiologiia 41:370–371

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heising S, Richter L, Ludwig W et al (1999) Chlorobium ferrooxidans sp. nov., a phototrophic green sulfur bacterium that oxidizes ferrous iron in coculture with a “Geospirillum” sp. strain. Arch Microbiol 172:116–124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirayama H, Sunamura M, Takai K et al (2007) Culture-dependent and -independent characterization of microbial communities associated with a shallow submarine hydrothermal system occurring within a coral reef off Taketomi Island, Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:7642–7656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoare DS, Gibson J (1964) Photoassimilation of acetate and the biosynthesis of amino acids by Chlorobium thiosulphatophilum. Biochem J 91:546

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iino T, Mori K, Uchino Y et al (2009) Ignavibacterium album gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic anaerobic bacterium isolated from microbial mats at a terrestrial hot spring, and proposal of Ignavibacteria classis nov. for a novel lineage at the periphery of the green sulfur bacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.012484-0

  • Imhoff JF (1988) Halophilic phototrophic bacteria. In: Rodriguez-Valera F (ed) Halophilic bacteria. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 85–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Imhoff JF (1999) A phylogenetically oriented taxonomy of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. In: Blankenship RE, Madigan MT, Bauer CE (eds) The anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 763–774

    Google Scholar 

  • Imhoff JF (2003) Phylogenetic taxonomy of the family Chlorobiaceae on the basis of 16S rRNA and fmo (Fenna Matthews–Olson protein) gene sequences. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53:941–951

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imhoff JF, Bias-Imhoff U (1995) Lipids, quinones and fatty acids of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. In: Blankenship RE, Miller M, Bauer CE (eds) Anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. Advances in photosynthesis and respiration, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 179–205

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Keppen OI, Berg IA, Lebedeva NV et al (2008a) Chlorobaculum macestae sp. nov., a new green sulfur bacterium. Mikrobiologiia 77:69–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keppen OI, Tourova TP, Ivanovsky RN et al (2008b) Phylogenetic position of three strains of green sulfur bacteria. Mikrobiologiia 77:243–246

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar PA, Srinivas TRN, Sasikala C et al (2009) Prosthecochloris indica sp. nov., a novel green sulfur bacterium from a marine aquaculture pond, Kakinada, India. J Gen Appl Microbiol 55:163–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapage SP, Sneath PHA, Lessel EF et al (1992) International code of nomenclature of bacteria (1990 revision). Bacteriological code. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen H (1953) On the microbiology and biochemistry of the photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria. Kgl Norske Vidensk Selsk Skr 1:205

    Google Scholar 

  • Liaaen-Jensen S (1965) Bacterial carotenoids, XVIII. Aryl carotenoids from Phaeobium. Acta Chem Scand 19:1025–1030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lunina ON, Gorlenko VM, Solov’eva OA et al (2005) Seasonal changes in the structure of the anoxygenic phototrophic bacterial community in Lake Mogilnoe, a relict lake on Kil’din Island in the Barents Sea. Microbiology 74:588–596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandel M, Leadbetter ER, Pfennig N et al (1971) Deoxyribonucleic acid base compositions of phototrophic bacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 21:222

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer TE, Bartsch RG, Cusanovich MA et al (1968) The cytochromes of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum. Biochim Biophys Acta 153:854–861

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Overmann J (2001) Green sulfur bacteria. In: Boone DR, Castenholz RW (eds) The Archaea and the deeply branching and phototrophic Bacteria. Bergey’s Manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1. Springer, New York, pp 601–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Overmann J, Pfennig N (1989) Pelodictyon phaeoclathratiforme sp nov, a new brown-colored member of the Chlorobiaceae forming net-like colonies. Arch Microbiol 152:401–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Overmann J, Tuschak C (1997) Phylogeny and molecular fingerprinting of green sulfur bacteria. Arch Microbiol 167:302–309

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N (1968) Chlorobium phaeobacteroides nov spec. und C. phaeovibrioides nov. spec., zwei neue Arten der grünen Schwefelbakterien. Arch Microbiol 63:224–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N (1989) Green sulfur bacteria. In: Holt JG (ed) Archaeobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and remaining Gram-negative Bacteria. Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 3. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 1682–1697

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Lippert KD (1966) Über das Vitamin B12-Bedürfnis phototropher Schwefelbakterien. Arch Microbiol 55:245–256

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Overmann J (2001a) Genus I. Chlorobium. In: Boone DR, Castenholz RW (eds) The Archaea and the deeply branching and phototrophic Bacteria. Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1. Springer, New York, pp 605–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Overmann J (2001b) Genus IV. Pelodictyon. In: Boone DR, Castenholz RW (eds) The Archaea and the deeply branching and phototrophic Bacteria. Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1. Springer, New York, pp 614–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Trüper HG (1971a) Higher taxa of the phototrophic bacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 21:17

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Trüper HG (1971b) Type and neotype strains of the species of phototrophic bacteria maintained in pure culture. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 21:19

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Trüper HG (1981) Isolation of members of the families Chromatiaceae and Chlorobiaceae. In: Trüper HG, Balows A, Schlegel HG (eds) The prokaryotes. A handbook on the habitats, isolation, and identification of bacteria. Springer, Berlin, pp 279–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Puchkova NN, Gorlenko VM (1976) New brown chlorobacteria Prosthecochloris phaeoasteroidea nov sp. Mikrobiologiia 45:655–660

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sirevag R, Ormerod JG (1970) Carbon dioxide fixation in green sulphur bacteria. Biochem J 120:399–408

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verté F, Kostanjevecki V, De Smet L et al (2002) Identification of a thiosulfate utilization gene cluster from the green phototrophic bacterium Chlorobium limicola. Biochemistry 41:2932–2945

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vila X, Guyoneaud R, Cristina XP et al (2002) Green sulfur bacteria from hypersaline Chiprana Lake (Monegros, Spain): habitat description and phylogenetic relationship of isolated strains. Photosynth Res 71:165–172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vogl K, Glaeser J, Pfannes KR et al (2006) Chlorobium chlorochromatii sp nov., a symbiotic green sulfur bacterium isolated from the phototrophic consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum”. Arch Microbiol 185:363–372

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wahlund TM, Woese CR, Castenholz RW et al (1991) A thermophilic green sulfur bacterium from New Zealand hot springs, Chlorobium tepidum sp nov. Arch Microbiol 156:81–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witt D, Bergsteinbendan T, Stackebrandt E (1989) Nucleotide sequence of 16S ribosomal RNA and phylogenetic position of the green sulfur bacterium Clathrochloris sulfurica. Arch Microbiol 152:206–208

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woese CR (1987) Bacterial evolution. Microb Rev 51:221–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meereswissenschaften IFM-GEOMAR an der Universität Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Johannes F. Imhoff & Vera Thiel

Authors
  1. Johannes F. Imhoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vera Thiel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes F. Imhoff.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Imhoff, J.F., Thiel, V. Phylogeny and taxonomy of Chlorobiaceae . Photosynth Res 104, 123–136 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-009-9510-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-009-9510-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation