Reclassification of Arthrobacter nasiphocae (Collins et al. 2002) as Falsarthrobacter nasiphocae gen. nov., comb. nov.

Abstract

The original description of Arthrobacter nasiphocae M597/99/10T demonstrated that it is distantly related to the type species of the genus Arthrobacter, Arthrobacter globiformis, and that this phylogenetic relationship is reflected by the distinct peptidoglycan type [Lys-Ala2-Gly2-3-Ala(Gly)] and the features of the quinone system, which is composed of menaquinones MK-9(H2) and MK-8(H2). Here, we report a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of A. nasiphocae. Phylogenetically, it was observed to be only distantly related to the genus Arthrobacter and to the type species of related genera. Re-analysis confirmed the quinone system menaquinones MK-9(H2) and MK-8(H2) in A. nasiphocae. Analysis of cell polar lipids showed a profile consisting of the predominant lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, dimannosylglyceride, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid, and several minor unidentified lipids. This profile clearly is different from that of Arthrobacter species. The cell fatty acid profile also showed characteristics that distinguished A. nasiphocae from Arthrobacter species. The phylogenetic distance of A. nasiphocae from any type species of genera within the family Micrococcaceae and the distinct chemotaxonomic traits warrant the reclassification of A. nasiphocae within a novel genus, for which we propose the name Falsarthrobacter nasiphocae gen. nov., comb. nov. The type strain is M597/99/10T (=CCUG 42953T=CIP 107054T=DSM 13988T=JCM 11677T).