Iridescence of a marine bacterium and classification of prokaryotic structural colors.

ABSTRACT: Iridescence is a property of structural color that is occasionally encountered in higher eukaryotes but that has been poorly documented in the prokaryotic kingdom. In the present work, we describe a marine bacterium, identified as Cellulophaga lytica, isolated from the surface of an anemone, that exhibits bright green iridescent colonies under direct epi-illumination. This phenomenon has not previously been investigated in detail. In this study, color changes of C. lytica colonies were observed at various angles of direct illumination or observation. Its iridescent green appearance was dominant on various growth media. Red and violet colors were also discerned on colony edges. Remarkable C. lytica bacterial iridescence was revealed and characterized using high-resolution optical spectromet

SUBMITTER: Kientz B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3302594 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature