BACTERIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN GENERAL

This chapter discusses the bacterial photosynthesis in general. Photosynthetic bacteria do not—in spite of the presence of the glycolytic enzymes—deal well with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates may not have been so abundant in early times. Perhaps they were uncommon when the photosynthetic bacteria evolved from the fermenters. Clostridia do have the enzymes for glycolysis. In photosynthesis, at least part of the energy is always gained in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Some of the principal results of research shows that in all photosynthetic processes, ATP is obtained and NAD(P)H may also be a product; in most cases, it is required for the assimilation of CO 2 . Photochemical systems different from the chlorophyll system arose in organisms at various stages. They control phototaxis, phototropism, and differentiation. The light-sensitive substances are in some cases related to chlorophyll such as the open-chain phycobilins in phytochrome.