title: Powered by light: Phototrophy and photosynthesis in prokaryotes and its evolution.
abstract: Photosynthesis is a complex metabolic process enabling photosynthetic organisms to use solar energy for the reduction of carbon dioxide into biomass. This ancient pathway has revolutionized life on Earth. The most important event was the development of oxygenic photosynthesis. It had a tremendous impact on the Earth's geochemistry and the evolution of living beings, as the rise of atmospheric molecular oxygen enabled the development of a highly efficient aerobic metabolism, which later led to the evolution of complex multicellular organisms. The mechanism of photosynthesis has been the subject of intensive research and a great body of data has been accumulated. However, the evolution of this process is not fully understood, and the development of photosynthesis in prokaryota in particular remains an unresolved question. This review is devoted to the occurrence and main features of phototrophy and photosynthesis in prokaryotes. Hypotheses concerning the origin and spread of photosynthetic traits in bacteria are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: beatrycze.nowicka@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Beatrycze
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: jerzy.kruk@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kruk
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D052817:Phototrophic Processes
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Carbon fixation; Lateral gene transfer; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic bacteria; Photosystems; Phototrophy