The photosynthetic ability of Rhodopseudomonas allows it to use energy from light to drive thermodynamically unfavorable reactions. In fact this bacterium stays alive for periods of weeks in a starved non-growing state as long as it is provided with light. Our goal is to provide foundational knowledge that will improve our ability to use non-growing phototropic bacteria as biocatalysts to convert inexpensive feedstock compounds to hydrogen gas or other biofuels.

We are using genome-scale analysis that is rooted in the application of high throughput next-generation sequencing technology to define the genes whose expression and function are responsible for starvation survival in Rhodopseudomonas. These genes will be validated and their role in cell physiology defined in an iterative process of mutagenesis, laboratory studies, and whole genome gene expression studies.