Dr. Josh Neufeld, University of Waterloo Professor, University Research Chair Shedding light on the evolution of anoxygenic phototrophy through cultivation of Boreal Shield lake bacteria Phototrophic members of the Chloroflexota phylum are enigmas in the evolution of phototrophy because of their unusual photosynthetic reaction centre and antenna complex pairing. Through a “failed” cultivation experiment from an iron-rich Boreal Shield lake, we recovered and characterized a novel new species, “Ca. Chlorohelix allophototropha”, with unexpected features relevant to the evolution of phototrophic bacteria. This talk will present genome, physiology, and ecology data to demonstrate that this phylogenetically distinct phototroph can be among the most active populations in illuminated anoxic waters of Boreal Shield lakes, which number in the millions globally. Our results establish Chloroflexota phylum members as unique among known anoxygenic phototrophs, providing new context for understanding the origins of phototrophic life on Earth. Comments are closed.
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