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Genomic Characteristics
The R. capusulatus genome consists of one chromosome and one plasmid. The chromosome is approximately 3.7-Mb with 3,531 open reading frames (ORFs), while the plasmid is smaller at 133-kb and 154 ORFs. Within the 3,531 ORFs in the chromosome, 3,100 had a known function assigned. Another 610 ORFs had similarities to genes that are known, but their function is still not proven. The rest of the ORFs were novel, with nothing similar in any other databases. The chromosome also a high G+C content, which can make sequencing difficult due to the strength of guanine and cytosine bonds. R. capsulatus contains all of the genes necessary to produce all 20 amino acids, and also contains 42 transposase genes, and 237 phage genes, including the gene transfer agent (GTA). The chromosome can be found in the NCBI database under CP001312, and the plasmid is under accession number CP001313.

Morphology and Physical Characteristics
R. capsulatus is a phototrophic bacterium with some interesting and identifiable characteristics. They can grow either as motile rods or as motile cocci, which is dependent on their environment. At pH levels below 7, the bacterium is spherical and forms chains. When the pH rises above 7, they switch to rod morphology. The higher the pH, the longer the rod shaped bacteria become. In their rod shape, they often form chains that are bent in nature. The original paper describes them as zigzaggy in shape. In response to the stress put on the cell at a pH of 8 or above, the cells display irregular, filamentous growth and often produce a slimy substance for protection. Anaerobic culturing of the organism produces a brown color, on the spectrum of yellow-brown to burgundy. In media containing malonate, the reddish-brown, or burgundy, color is observed. When the organism is grown aerobically, a red color is produced. This species will not grow above 30°C, and it will grow within 6 and 8.5 pH.

Metabolism
As a purple non-sulfur bacterium, it is capable of growth under aerobic or anaerobic conditions with light present. It can also fix nitrogen. It is capable of using glucose, fructose, alanine, glutamic acid, proprionate, glutaric acid, and other organic acids. However, it cannot utilize mannitol, tartrate, citrate, gluconate, ethanol, sorbitol, mannose, and leucine, which is unique to R. capsulatus when compared to other species in the genus. The most successful enrichments of this species come from proprionate and organic acids. Under photoheterotrophic conditions, R. capsulatus strain B10 is capable of using acetate as its sole carbon source, but the mechanisms of this have not been identified.