Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS Genome sequencing using SMRT Sequencing. Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS

Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS was originally isolated from soils in Denver, Colorado. It is a purple non-sulfur (PNS) photosynthetic bacterium belonging to the family of Rhodospirillaceae. Similar to most PNS in this family, Rx. gelatinosus is versatile with various modes of growth and energy metabolism. It carries out anoxygenic photosynthesis using electrons derived from organic acids and energy from sunlight, aerobic respiration using organic acids, and N2 fixation to ammonium in support of cell growth. Moreover, upon exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) in the culture gas phase, two Rx. gelatinosus strains, i.e., CBS and S1 can both carry out a water-gas shift reaction according to the equation CO + H2O → CO2 + H2. The products CO2 and H2 are then assimilated into new cell mass either in the light or in darkness. The latter growth mode in darkness could use CO as the sole carbon substrate hence coupling CO oxidation to energy generation via a mechanism yet to be resolved.