Yoko Katayama-Fujimura

Ubiquinone, Fatty acid and DNA Base Composition Determination as a Guide to the Taxonomy of the Genus Thiobacillus

Summary: Facultatively chemolithotrophic thiobacilli. Thiobacillus perometabolis thi 022, Thiobacillus sp. A2, Thiobacillus novellus, Thiobacillus organoparus and Thiobacillus acidophilus, had ubiquinones with 10 isoprene units (Q-10) (group I). These species also had [octadecenoic acid (18:1) + cyclopropane acid of C19 (19cyc)] as major non-hydroxylated fatty acids. The organisms, except T. novellus, contained 3-hydroxydecanoic acid (3-OH 10:0) or 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (3-OH 14:0) as hydroxy fatty acids. DNA base compositions of these species were 63 to 68 mol% G + C. Other facultatively chemolithotrophic thiobacilli, including T. perometabolis thi 023, Thiobacillus delicatus and Thiobacillus intermedius contained Q-8 (group II). They had hexadecanoic acid (16:0), [hexadecenoic acid (16:1) + cyclopropane acid of C17 (17cyc)] and [18:1 + 19cyc] as major non-hydroxylated fatty acids. The species of group II had 3-OH 10:0 and some possessed 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid (3-OH 12:0). The DNA base composition of these strains was about 65 mol% G + C. Obligate chemolithotrophic thiobacilli contained Q-8 (group III). They had 16:0, [16:1 + 17cyc] with or without [18:1 + 19cyc] as major non-hydroxylated fatty acids. The species of group III contained 3-OH 12:0 and some had 3-OH 10:0 when grown at neutral pH and 3-OH 14:0 in acidophilic conditions. DNA base compositions of these organisms ranged from 51 to 64 mol% G + C. Chemotaxonomic characteristics would seem to be useful for the identification and the classification of thiobacilli.

Determination of the nucleotide composition of a deoxyribonucleic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography of its enzymatic hydrlysate: a review

Abstract The guanine-plus-cytosine content of DNA is one of the most important criteria for classification of microorganisms. Usually the G + C content is estimated by the melting temperature of the DNA. Although a number of high-performance liquid chromatography system for analyzing nucleic acid derivatives are known, their application for the G + C assay has not been widely utilized. This review covers recent work in which DNA is digested by purified enzyme(s) to form nucleotides or nucleosides, which are analyzed by HPLC. The new methods are practical and sufficiently reliable for the determination of DNA based composition.

Characteristics of H2S oxidizing bacteria inhabiting a peat biofilter

Abstract Bacteria associated with H2S oxidization were isolated from a peat biofilter to which various concentrations of H2S gas were supplied. After acclimation of the peat, a facultative autotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus itnermedius, was primarily responsible for H2S oxidation. The cell number isolates increased at above pH 3, but decreased when pH fell below 3, in which range breakthrough of H2S was finally observed. When pH was controlled at around 3, constant removal of H2S continued without a decline of the cell number. The specific H2S uptake rate of the autotrophic bacterium was determined as 1.4 × 10−13 g-H2S-S/h/cells. The cell number of the bacteria during steady state H2S removal was proportional to the inlet H2S concentration, verifying the kinetic equation derived previously.

Structure of methylmenaquinone-7 isolated fromAlteromonas putrefaciens IAM 12079

Abstract The structure of methylmenaquinone-7, a major component of methylmenaquinones isolated fromAlteromonas putrefaciens IAM 12079, was determined by comparing the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectrum of its chromenyl derivative with those of menachromenyl acetate prepared from menaquinone-7 and phyllochromenyl acetate. Based on the numbering system used for naphthopyrane nucleus, proton signals of the 7- and 10-position for chromenyl derivatives were assigned from the signals on the1H-NMR spectra phyllochromenyl acetate and phyllochromenol. As a result, the chemical structure of methylmenaquinone-7 was determined as 2,8-dimethyl-3-farnesylgeranygeranyl-1,4-naphthoquinone.

Physiological characteristics of the facultatively chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus species Thiobacillus delicatus nom. rev., emend., Thiobacillus perometabolis, and Thiobacillus intermedius

The physiological characteristics of three facultatively chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus species with ubiquinone 8 (group II) (Thiobacillus delicatus THI 091T [T = type strain] Thiobacillus perometabolis THI 023T, and Thiobacillus intermedius THI 101T) were compared. These organisms differ from other facultatively chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus strains with ubiquinone 10 (group I) in requiring thiosulfate or elemental sulfur for optimum growth. T. delicatus THI 091T, T. perometabolis THI 023T, and T. intermedius THI 101T are regarded as three distinct species on the basis of their physiological characteristics. T. delicatus THI 091T differs from T. perometabolis THI 023T and T. intermedius THI 101T in its lack of motility, its ability to grow anaerobically with nitrate, and its intermediate formation of polythionate during thiosulfate oxidation. T. perometabolis THI 023T is distinguished from T. intermedius THI 101T by its ability to grow heterotrophically with a single carbon source. T. delicatus is not on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names; therefore, this name is revived. In addition, the description of this organism is emended, considering its inability to grow heterotrophically with a single carbon source.

Notes: Emendation of Thiobacillus perometabolis London and Rittenberg 1967

An emended description of Thiobacillus perometabolis type strain THI 023 (= ATCC 23370) is presented. T. perometabolis grows in autotrophic media containing reduced inorganic sulfur compounds and in heterotrophic media containing single carbon sources, contrary to the original description.

Reidentification of Thiobacillus perometabolis ATCC 27793 and Thiobacillus sp. Strain A2 with Reference to a New Species, Thiobacillus rapidicrescens sp. nov.

Thiobacillus perometabolis THI 024 (= ATCC 27793) is closely related to Thiobacillus sp. strain A2T (type strain) (= THI 041T = ATCC 25364T), and these strains clearly differ from the known Thiobacillus species in their morphological and physiological characteristics, ubiquinone systems, deoxyribonucleic acid guanine-plus-cytosine contents, and cellular fatty acid compositions. We propose the name Thiobacillus rapidicrescens sp. nov. for these organisms. Strain THI 041 is the type strain of this species.