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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1986 February; 51(2): 398-407
Copyright © 1986, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Adaptation to Hydrogen Sulfide of Oxygenic and Anoxygenic Photosynthesis among Cyanobacteria

² H. Steinitz Marine Biology Laboratory, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Eilat 88103, Israel, ¹ and Institute of Ecology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, DK 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark²

ABSTRACT

Four different types of adaptation to sulfide among cyanobacteria are described based on the differential toxicity to sulfide of photosystems I and II and the capacity for the induction of anoxygenic photosynthesis. Most cyanobacteria are highly sensitive to sulfide toxicity, and brief exposures to low concentrations cause complete and irreversible cessation of CO₂ photoassimilation. Resistance of photosystem II to sulfide toxicity, allowing for oxygenic photosynthesis under sulfide, is found in cyanobacteria exposed to low H₂S concentrations in various hot springs. When H₂S levels exceed 200 µM another type of adaptation involving partial induction of anoxygenic photosynthesis, operating in concert with partially inhibited oxygenic photosynthesis, is found in cyanobacterial strains isolated from both hot springs and hypersaline cyanobacterial mats. The fourth type of adaptation to sulfide is found at H₂S concentrations higher than 1 mM and involves a complete replacement of oxygenic photosynthesis by an effective sulfide-dependent, photosystem II-independent anoxygenic photosynthesis. The ecophysiology of the various sulfide-adapted cyanobacteria may point to their uniqueness within the division of cyanobacteria.

^* Corresponding author.

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