ergy metabolism
Halophiles, unlike their closest relatives, the methanogenes, can grow under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Halobacterium has three distinct systems to gain energy.
Oxidation of various metabolites under aerobic conditions
oxidizes pyruvate which is channeled into the tricarboxylic acid cycle using pyruvate--ferredoxin oxidoreductase ( Plaga et. al. (1992))
Halobacterium contains all five major complexes of the respiratory chain.
Photosynthesis
bacteriorhodopsin, a light-driven proton pump, creates a proton gradient. ATP synthase can use the energy of the proton gradient to drive ATP synthesis.
Fermentation of argnine
Halobacterium generates ATP by its arginine fermentation pathway.