24 4.7 Microbial phototrophy

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the function and locations of photosynthetic pigments in eukaryotes and prokaryotes
  • Describe the major products of the light-dependent and light-independent reactions
  • Describe the reactions that produce glucose in a photosynthetic cell
  • Compare and contrast cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation

Phototrophy (or “light eating”) refers to the process by which energy from the sun is captured and converted into chemical energy, in the form of ATP. The term photosynthesis is more precisely used to describe organisms that both convert sunlight into ATP (the “light reaction”) but then also proceed to use the ATP to fix carbon dioxide into organic compounds. These organisms are the photoautotrophs and are the major producers in the World’s food webs. Although photosynthesis is most commonly associated with plants, microbial photosynthesis is also a significant supplier of chemical energy for the food web’s consumers. Among the bacteria and archaea, there are also photoheterotrophs, organisms that convert sunlight into ATP but utilize pre-made organic compounds available in the environment. In the dark, these organisms typically grow as heterotrophs.

Rhodopsin-Based Phototrophy

The simplest, and possibly most ancient, form of phototrophy involves a light-activated proton pump in the plasma membrane of some Proteobacteria and halophilic archaea: these are the rhodopsin proteins (proteorhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin, respectively). The proteins contain an associated retinal molecule related to the one found in vertebrate eyes. When the retinal pigment absorbs light it causes the rhodopsin protein to undergo a conformational change, pumping a proton across the cell membrane and leading to the development of a proton motive force. These organisms all appear to also be heterotrophic, with the energy from the rhodopsin proteins supplementing that from cellular respiration. Proteorhodopsin-containing bacteria appear to be widespread in the oligotrophic ocean surface waters. The colour from the bacteriorhodopsin proteins of the halophilic archaea in salt flats and salterns (Figure 4.30) gives these waters a bright pink or red colour.

Photo of sea water-evaporating ponds in France. The water is bright pink due to the growth of halobacteria. The colour comes from the retinal pigment in the membrane-bound bacteriorhodopsin.
Figure 4.30. Photograph of SalternsSalterns such as this one in Southern France, are used to make sea salt by evaporating sea water. [Credit: Jeroen Komen].
  • What is rhodopsin-based phototrophy?
  • What organisms use it and under what conditions?

Phototrophic Electron Transport Systems

The more common types of phototrophs are those that transfer an energized electron from a photosynthetic pigment such as chlorophyll, to an electron transport system (ETS). These systems have the same general composition and function as those used for cellular respiration, and therefore generate proton motive force (PMF). A simplified photosystem is shown in Figure 4.31, where photons are absorbed by a chlorophyll or bacteriochlorophyll pigment, leading to photoexcitation of a pigment electron (an electronic transition, for those who remember their physics!). With the electron in a higher energy state, the pigment becomes photoionized, losing the electron to the first acceptor in the ETS. The electron moves spontaneously from carrier to carrier, based on increasing Eo‘ values. The combination of iron-containing carriers, with those that carry electrons and protons (e.g. the quinones) results in the generation of a PMF. The membrane-bound ATP synthase catalyzes the formation of ATP from ADP + Pi, and because the source of PMF results from phototrophy, rather than oxidation of a chemical energy source, this phosphorylation reaction is called “photophosphorylation” instead of “oxidative phosphorylation”. In the simplest situation, once depleted of energy, the electron cycles back to the special pair of chlorophyll/bacteriochlorophyll molecules in cyclic photophosphorylation. The process can then be repeated over and over again.

 

Figure depicting a general system of phototrophy involving an ETS. Photoexcitation of chlorophyll triggers reduction of the first component of the ETS, with chemiosmosis giving rise to a PMF leading to synthesis of ATP by the ATP synthase.
Figure 4.31. Diagram of simplified photosystem. Phototrophy involving an electron transport system includes photoexcitation of (bacterio)chlorophyll and generation of PMF which leads to synthesis of ATP as protons flow down their concentration gradient (“chemiomosis”), through the membrane-bound ATP synthase.

While a cell’s energy and ATP requirements are typically higher than its need of reducing power, photosynthetic organisms also use their photosystems to generate reduced cofactors. In this case, the electrons are diverted through a different branch, ending in the reduction of NADH/NADPH. For photosynthesis to continue, the electron lost from the reaction centre pigment must be replaced. The source of this electron (H2A) differentiates the oxygenic photosynthesis of plants and cyanobacteria from anoxygenic photosynthesis carried out by other types of bacterial phototrophs (Figure 4.32). In oxygenic photosynthesis, photolysis of H2O supplies the electron to the reaction centre. Because oxygen is generated as a byproduct and is released, this type of photosynthesis is referred to as oxygenic photosynthesis. However, when other reduced compounds serve as the electron donor, oxygen is not generated; these types of photosynthesis are called anoxygenic photosynthesis. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) or thiosulphate (S2O32−) can serve as the electron donor, with the photolysis event generating elemental sulphur (S0) and sulphate (SO42−) ions, respectively, as a result.

In oxygenic photosynthesis 6 carbon dioxide 12 water and light energy is converted to glucose, 6 oxygen, and 6 water. In anoxygenic photosynthesis carbon dioxide, 2H2A and light energy is converted to a carbohydrate and water. H2A = water, H2S, H2, or other electron donor.
Figure 4.32. Eukaryotes and cyanobacteria carry out oxygenic photosynthesis, producing oxygen, whereas other bacteria carry out anoxygenic photosynthesis, which does not produce oxygen.
  • How do photoexcitation, photoionization and photolysis relate to photosynthetic electron transport systems?

Photosynthetic Membranes and Pigments

In order to maximize their ability to absorb light energy, phototrophs have increased membrane content. Depending upon the type of phototroph, the photosynthetic membranes are associated with, or invaginated from, the plasma membrane (or the inner membrane of the chloroplast). Embedded within the membranes are photosynthetic pigment molecules organized into one or more photosystems, where light energy is converted into chemical energy. Each photosystem is composed of a light-harvesting (antenna) complex and a reaction centre. The light-harvesting complex consists of multiple proteins and associated pigments that each may absorb light energy and, thus, become excited. This energy is transferred from one pigment molecule to another until eventually (after about a millionth of a second) it is delivered to the reaction centre. Up to this point, only energy—not electrons—has been transferred between molecules. The reaction centre pigment (e.g. chlorophyll) can undergo oxidation (photoionization) upon excitation, actually giving up an electron to the associated ETS. 

The pigments associated with microbial photosystems include chlorophylls or the structurally similar bacteriochlorophylls, as well as accessory pigments (Figure 4.33). Cyanobacteria and algae utilize chlorophylls; these are green in colour, due to the fact that they absorb red and blue wavelengths (≈675 nm and 430 nm) and transmit green light. The purple and green bacteria use bacteriochlorophylls, which absorb wavelengths in the infrared (≈870 nm) and UV (≤400 nm) regions of the spectrum.

Carotenoids and phycobiliproteins are accessory pigments that help maximize light absorption. They are fluorescent molecules, absorbing light of intermediate wavelengths and reemitting the light at the longer wavelengths absorbed by the chlorophyll/bacteriochlorophyll.  Carotenoids, which absorb blue light (400-550 nm), are typically yellow, orange, or red in colour and are found in all phototrophs. The phycobiliproteins are found in the cyanobacteria and certain algae. They can be split in two groups: phycoerythrin, which transmits a red colour, and phycocyanin, which transmits a blue colour. The accessory pigments also serve a protective function for the organism by acting as an antioxidant.

 

Figure showing the light absorption spectra of the different photopigments. Absorption spectra show the amount of light absorbed (y-axis) as a function of wavelength (x-axis).
Figure 4.33. Light absorption spectra of the different photopigments. Absorption spectra show the amount of light absorbed (y-axis) as a function of wavelength (x-axis).

As shown in Table 4.5, the species-specific combination of different photosystem pigments allows different phototrophs to occupy the same environment without competing with one another. Each species is optimized for harvesting the wavelengths of light to which it is commonly exposed, leading to stratification of microbial communities in aquatic and soil ecosystems by light quality and penetration, as well as other environmental conditions. These organisms typically have structures that also help them move towards, and remain in, those regions of the euphotic zone (the zone exposed to sunlight) where conditions are optimal. Most commonly, this involves phototaxis (see Unique Characteristics of Prokaryotic Cells) via cell surface receptors and flagella. However, it may also involve gas vesicles that alter the buoyancy of the organism, for example in the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum (see Archaea). The species-specificity of photosynthetic membrane structures and absorption spectra helps identify the phototrophs, just as the ability to utilize different organic energy sources is used to help identify the heterotrophs.

Table 4.5. Summary of different bacterial and archaeal phototrophs and their photosystems.

Table summarizing the properties of different bacterial (purple and green sulphurs, purple and green nonsulphurs, cyanobacteria, proteorhodopsin containing species) and archaeal (bacteriorhodopsin-containing halophiles) phototrophs and their photosystems.

Table 1 continued

  • What is the purpose of the photosynthetic antennae and how do they work?
  • How do the different photosynthetic pigments relate to the coexistence of, and identification of, the different microbial phototrophs?

Anoxygenic Phototrophy

Purple Phototrophic Bacteria

The purple phototrophs are all Gram negative proteobacteria. They have a single photosystem with bacteriochlorophyll, allowing them to use cyclic photophosphorylation as described above for the formation of ATP. Upon absorption of a photon of light, the reaction centre of purple bacteria (known as P870, based on one of its wavelengths of maximum absorption) becomes a strong reducing agent, with an [latex]E^{o'}[/latex] of -1.0V. Electrons are transferred through the chain by reducing quinones to quinols and these, in turn, reduce the Fe3+ of the cytochrome heme group to Fe2+, with a resultant extrusion of protons to the periplasm. Instead of cycling back to the reaction centre pigment, as shown in Figure 4.34, electrons can instead be directed from the quinols through a branch to NAD(P). Because the reduction potential of the quinol is lower (i.e. a more positive [latex]E^{o'}[/latex]), than that of NAD(P), autotrophic purple bacteria must use reverse electron flow, as previously discussed in the section on lithotrophy; they drive electrons in an endergonic direction (i.e. up the electron tower), using energy from the proton motive force. Photolysis of H2S or elemental sulphur in the purple sulphurs then replenishes the electrons that were diverted to NAD(P). Various sulphur byproducts are produced, including elemental sulphur. These sulphur granules typically accumulate inside the cells, and can be visualized in the cytoplasm.

Panel a depicts the purple electron transport chain. Light hits the light-harvesting complex in the plasma membrane, leading to photoionization. Electrons cycle through the chains then back to the reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll, generating PMF.

Panel B shows the sequence of changes in redox potential, beginning with photoexcitation of the reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll, leading to a strong reduction potential. Electrons enter the ETS, flowing in an exergonic direction until they cycle back to the reaction centre in cyclic photosynthesis.
Figure 4.34. Purple phototrophs. A – the plasma membrane of the contains the purple photosystem and the ATP synthase. B – upon photoexcitation of the reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll, the strong reduction potential causes photoionization, and reduction of ETS quinones, generating quinols (UQ = ubiquinone), followed by the reduction of electron-only cytochrome carriers, giving rise to PMF. After reduction of the last cytochrome, the electrons cycle back to the reaction centre in cyclic photosynthesis.

In the presence of organic compounds, the purple bacteria often exist as photoheterotrophs, utilizing cyclic photophosphorylation to generate ATP and getting their organic compounds from the environment. This eliminates the need for using reverse electron flow, an energetically unfavourable process, as well as the need for external electron donors. The membranes of the purple phototrophs form stacked disc-shaped structures called thylakoids. Unlike the thylakoids of the eukaryotic chloroplast, the embedded ATP synthase are oriented so that the catalytic “knob” is in the cytoplasm.

Green phototrophic bacteria

Green phototrophic bacteria also utilize a single photosystem with bacteriochlorophyll for cyclic photophosphorylation in the production of ATP. The antennae complexes of the green phototrophs are contained in organelle-like membrane enclosed vesicles called chlorosomes (Figure 4.35).[1] The green photosystem is best characterized in members of the phylum Chlorobium: these are the green sulphur bacteria. These bacteria are photoautotrophs and the same photosystem is used for generation of reducing power, by periodically drawing off electrons to NAD+. The use of reverse electron flow is unnecessary, however, since the initial carrier, ferredoxin (Fd) has an E0’ with a more negative reduction potential than NAD(P). Electrons are replenished through photolysis of H2S or thiosulphate, but unlike the purple sulphurs, sulphur granule byproducts do not accumulate in the cytoplasm.

Bacteria in the phylum Chloroflexi have traditionally been referred to as the green nonsulphur bacteria. They are less well characterized, with a small number having been isolated. They are often filamentous and thermophilic, typically living as photoheterotrophs, and as heterotrophs in the dark.

Panel A shows the chlorosomes of the green phototrophic bacteria. The photosynthetic antenna complex of the green phototrophs occurs in chlorosomes. These transfer energy to the green photosystem in the plasma membrane and PMF arising from the photosystem results in synthesis of ATP by the membrane-bound ATP synthase.

B - upon photoexcitation of the reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll, the strong reduction potential leads to the reduction of another BChl, an iron sulphur protein, then electrons either cycle back via quinones and cytochromes, or flow in an exergonic direction, to ferredoxin (Fd) and finally to NAD+. Noncyclic electron flow is accompanied by photolysis of sulphur compounds such as H2S.
Figure 4.35. Photosynthesis in the green sulphur bacteria. A – the photosynthetic antenna complex of the green bacteria occur in chlorosomes. These transfer energy to the photosystem in the plasma membrane and PMF arising from photosynthetic electron flow results in synthesis of ATP by the membrane-bound ATP synthase. Adapted from Senge et al., 2014. B – upon photoexcitation of the reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll, the strong reduction potential leads to the reduction of another BChl, an iron sulphur protein (FeS), then electrons either cycle back via quinones and cytochromes, or flow in an exergonic direction, to ferredoxin (Fd) and finally to ferredoxin-NAD+ reductase yielding NADH. Noncyclic electron flow is accompanied by photolysis of sulphur compounds such as H2S.
  • What are the basic differences between the purple and green phototrophs?
  • What is reverse electron flow and why is it necessary in purple sulphurs but not green sulphurs?

Oxygenic Phototrophy

The Cyanobacteria are the only bacteria that produce oxygen. It is because of their ability to photolyse water, releasing oxygen, that Earth’s atmosphere eventually experienced what has been called “The Great Oxygenation Event”, around 2 billion years ago. Prior to that, Earth’s atmosphere was anaerobic, as was microbial life. Cyanobacteria are a large and diverse taxon. They exist in Arctic waters and sea ice, in hot springs, freshwater and throughout the World’s oceans. They may be unicellular or filamentous, may fix nitrogen in addition to carbon, and along with algae, are major primary producers in the biosphere. The photosynthetic membranes form thylakoids and contain chlorophyll (Figure 4.36).

<img class=”wp-image-414 size-large” src=”https://oer.pressbooks.pub/app/uploads/sites/64/2021/08/Cyanobacteria-1024×852.jpg” alt=”Diagram of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria. In cyanobacteria (and eukaryotic chloroplasts), the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis (left) occur in photosynthetic membranes called thylakoids. Generation of PMF across the plasma membrane leads to synthesis of ATP by photophosphorylation, and, through noncyclic electron flow accompanied by photolysis of H2O, production of NADPH. These products are used by the light-independent reactions to fix CO2, producing organic carbon molecules.” width=”1024″ height=”852″> Figure 4.36. In cyanobacteria (and eukaryotic chloroplasts), the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis (left) occur in photosynthetic membranes called thylakoids. Generation of PMF across the bacterial plasma membrane leads to synthesis of ATP by photophosphorylation, and, through noncyclic electron flow accompanied by photolysis of H2O, to production of NADPH. These products are used by the light-independent reactions to fix CO2, producing organic carbon molecules.

The eukaryotic chloroplasts also contain thylakoids and chlorophyll: not surprising, given their endosymbiotic origin and shared ancestry with the cyanobacteria (see Foundations of Modern Cell Theory). The chloroplasts are enclosed by a double membrane with inner and outer layers. A stack of thylakoids is called a granum, and the space surrounding the granum within the chloroplast is called stroma (Figure 4.37). Unlike the cyanobacteria, the catalytic “knob” of the thylakoid-embedded ATP synthase faces the stroma rather than the cytoplasm.

Drawing of a chloroplast, which is a bean shaped structure with an outer membrane and an inner membrane. Between these is the intermembrane space. Inside the inner membrane is an aqueous fluid called stroma and membranes (thylakoids) that form stacks called (grana). The thylakoids form disks with an inner thylakoid lumen.
Figure 4.37. Diagram of the chloroplast. Photosynthesis in eukaryotes takes place in chloroplasts, which contain thylakoids stacked into grana.

Unlike the anoxygenic phototrophs, cyanobacteria and chloroplasts have two photosystems. Both photosystems are excited by light energy simultaneously. If the cell requires both ATP and NADPH for biosynthesis, then it will carry out noncyclic photophosphorylation. Upon passing of the PSII reaction centre electron to the ETS that connects PSII and PSI, the lost electron from the PSII reaction centre is replaced by splitting water. The excited PSI reaction centre electron is used to reduce NADP+ to NADPH and is replaced by the electron exiting the ETS. The flow of electrons in this way is called the Z-scheme (Figure 4.38). 

Diagram of the thylakoid membrane and the two photosystems within the membrane.
Figure 4.38. (a) PSI and PSII are found on the thylakoid membrane. The high-energy electron from PSII is passed to an ETS, which generates a proton motive force for ATP synthesis by chemiosmosis, and ultimately replaces the electron lost by the PSI reaction centre. The PSI reaction centre electron is used to make NADPH. (b) When both ATP and NADPH are required, noncyclic photophosphorylation (in cyanobacteria and plants) provides both. The electron flow described here is referred to as the Z-scheme (shown in yellow in [a]). When the cell’s ATP needs outweigh those for NADPH, cyanobacteria and plants will use only PSI, and its reaction centre electron is passed to the ETS to generate a proton motive force used for ATP synthesis.

If a cell’s need for ATP is significantly greater than its need for NADPH, it may bypass the production of reducing power through cyclic photophosphorylation. Only PSI is used during cyclic photophosphorylation; the high-energy electron of the PSI reaction centre is passed to an ETS carrier and then ultimately returns to the oxidized PSI reaction centre pigment, thereby reducing it.

  • What is the historical and current significance of the cyanobacteria?
  • How does the photosystem of the cyanobacteria differ from that of the anoxygenic phototrophs?

 

Key Takeaways

  • Heterotrophs depend on the carbohydrates produced by autotrophs, many of which are photosynthetic, converting solar energy into chemical energy.
  • Different photosynthetic organisms use different mixtures of photosynthetic pigments, which increase the range of the wavelengths of light an organism can absorb.
  • Photosystems (PSI and PSII) each contain a light-harvesting complex, composed of multiple proteins and associated pigments that absorb light energy. The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis convert solar energy into chemical energy, producing ATP and NADPH or NADH to temporarily store this energy.
  • In oxygenic photosynthesis, H2O serves as the electron donor to replace the reaction centre electron, and oxygen is formed as a byproduct. In anoxygenic photosynthesis, other reduced molecules like H2S or thiosulphate may be used as the electron donor; as such, oxygen is not formed as a byproduct.
  • Noncyclic photophosphorylation is used in oxygenic photosynthesis when there is a need for both ATP and NADPH production. If a cell’s needs for ATP outweigh its needs for NADPH, then it may carry out cyclic photophosphorylation instead, producing only ATP.
  • The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis use the ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to fix CO2 into organic sugar molecules.

Multiple Choice


True/False


Fill in the Blank


Short Answer


  1. Why would an organism perform cyclic phosphorylation instead of noncyclic phosphorylation?
  2. What is the function of photosynthetic pigments in the light-harvesting complex?

Critical Thinking


  1. Is life dependent on the carbon fixation that occurs during the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis? Explain.

 

 


  1. Senge, M.O., Ryan, A.A., Letchford, K.A., MacGowan, S.A. and Mielke, T. 2014. Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis. Symmetry 6(3), 781-843; doi:10.3390/sym6030781

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

DeSales Microbiology Copyright © 2022 by DeSales University & Dr. Dia Beachboard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book