Genus Saccharothrix Research Articles

Poly(L‐lactide)‐Degrading Activity in Various Actinomycetes

AbstractThe poly(L‐lactide) (PLA)‐degrading ability of actinomycetes obtained from culture collections was examined by the formation of clear zones on PLA‐emulsified agar plates. Using 41 genera (105 strains) of actinomycetes with phylogenetic affiliations based on 16S rRNA sequences, PLA degraders were found to be limited to members of the family Pseudonocardiaceae and related genera. They included Amycolatopsis, Saccharothrix, Lentzea, Kibdelosporangium, and Streptoalloteichus. A large number of PLA degraders were widely distributed within the genus Saccharothrix. Most strains forming clear zones on PLA‐emulsified agar plates also formed clear zones on silk fibroin agar plates. Saccharothrix species showed an ability to degrade PLA films and assimilate degradation products in liquid cultures. No significant change of the molecular weight and polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of the remaining film fragments was confirmed. After cultivation for two weeks, many irregular holes/pits on the surface of the film due to the colonization of microorganisms were observed by scanning electron microscopy.Scanning electron micrograph of the surface of PLA film: A. orientalis subsp. orientalis IFO 12362 after 14 d.magnified imageScanning electron micrograph of the surface of PLA film: A. orientalis subsp. orientalis IFO 12362 after 14 d.

Saccharothrix violacea sp. nov., isolated from a gold mine cave, and Saccharothrix albidocapillata comb. nov.

The generic position of two isolates from soils inside a gold mine cave in Kongju, Korea, was determined by 16S rDNA sequencing and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that both of the isolates formed a clade with Lentzea albidocapillata and members of the genus Saccharothrix of the family Pseudonocardiaceae. The chemical composition of the isolates and of Lentzea albidocapillata was consistent with that of the genus Saccharothrix, which is characterized by a type III cell wall (the meso-isomer of diaminopimelic acid, and galactose and rhamnose as characteristic whole-cell sugars), MK-9(H4) as the major menaquinone, and a phospholipid type PII pattern (phosphatidylethanolamine as a diagnostic phospholipid). The combination of morphological features, chemotaxonomic characters and phylogenetic data supported the proposal that Lentzea albidocapillata, the only and type strain of the genus Lentzea, should be transferred to the genus Saccharothrix. On the basis of physiological properties, cellular fatty acid composition and DNA-DNA hybridization data, two new species within the genus Saccharothrix are proposed: Saccharothrix violacea sp. nov., type strain LM 036T (= IMSNU 50388T), and Saccharothrix albidocapillata comb. nov., type strain DSM 44073T (=IMSNU 21253T).

Phylogenetic analysis of Saccharothrix and related taxa: proposal for Actinosynnemataceae fam. nov.

Partial sequences for 16S rDNA were determined for strains of the genus Saccharothrix, including most described species, as well as strains of the described species of the related genera Kutzneria, Actinokineospora and Actinosynnema. These were aligned with published sequences for other species of these genera, as well as those of the genera 'Actinoalloteichus', 'Asiosporangium', Lentzea, Kutzneria, Streptoalloteichus and representative taxa from other actinomycete families. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data showed that species of the genera Actinokineospora, Actinosynnema, Lentzea and Saccharothrix are members of the same clade, and distinct from the Pseudonocardiaceae. It is proposed that a new family be created within the class Actinobacteria for these genera, to be called the Actinosynnemataceae on the basis of the oldest described genus within this family, Actinosynnema Hasegawa et al. The chemotaxonomic properties of all the genera to be placed within the new family have similar cell wall type (type III), whole-cell sugars (generally galactose although mannose and rhamnose may be present), phospholipid type (PII) and menaquinones [MK-9(H4) predominant].

Saccharothrix tangerinus sp.nov., the Producer of the New Antibiotic Formamicin: Taxonomic Studies.

The taxonomy of a soil isolate, strain MK27-91F2 which produced a new antifungal antibiotics formamicin, was studied. We propose that the strain should belong to a new species of the genus Saccharothrix with the new name Saccharothrix tangerinus sp. nov., the type strain being MK27-91F2 (= JCM 10302 = IFO 16184 = FERM P-16053). This new species was characterized by a type III cell wall, galactose and rhamnose as whole-cell sugars, type PII phospholipids, MK-9(H4) menaquinone, fatty acid components of i-16:0, i-14:0, i-15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 17:1 and i-16:1, but lacking mycolic acids, a G+C content in DNA of 74 mol %, and a base sequence of 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Amino acid sequence analysis of ribosomal protein AT-L30 from members of the family Pseudonocardiaceae.

The phylogenetic relationships of the genera belonging to the family Pseudonocardiaceae were examined by a novel approach, amino acid sequencing of ribosomal AT-L30 proteins. The results of partial amino acid sequencing of AT-L30 preparations revealed that the members of the family Pseudonocardiaceae are divided into four clusters; the first cluster contains the genus Actinopolyspora, the second cluster contains the genus Saccharopolyspora, the third cluster contains the genus Amycolatopsis, and the fourth cluster contains the genera Amycolata, Pseudonocardia, Saccharomonospora, and Kibdelosporangium, indicating a close phylogenetic relationship between the genera Amycolata and Pseudonocardia. The genus Actinokineospora is closely related to the genus Saccharothrix, and these two genera formed a cluster separate from the clusters for the genera of the Pseudonocardiaceae. These results agree in almost all respects with previous 16S rRNA sequencing work by Embley et al. (T. M. Embely, J. Smida, and E. Stackebrandt, Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 11:44-52, 1988) and Warwick et al. (S. Warwick, T. Bowen, H. McVeigh, and T. M. Embley, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44:293-299, 1994), thus supporting the proposal of Warwick et al. that the genera Amycolata and Pseudonocardia should be combined in an emended genus, Pseudonocardia. However, a discrepancy was found between the present study and that of Warwick et al. In the present study, the Nocardia-Rhodococcus group and the Saccharothrix-Actinokineospora group were both recovered within the clade for the family Pseudonocardiaceae.

Chemotaxonomy and Numerical Taxonomy of the Genus Nocardiopsis Meyer 1976

A total of 15 strains of the genus Nocardiopsis were characterized chemotaxonomically and physiologically in an attempt to resolve their taxonomy. These strains fell into two taxa, which differed in cell wall composition and menaquinone, phospholipid, and fatty acid patterns. Ten of the strains assessed in this study belong to the genus Nocardiopsis and can be assigned to five species on the basis of their physiology. Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei is heterogeneous; N. dassonvillei remains centered on the type strain (strain DSM 43111), and the remaining strains form a new subspecies, Nocardiopsis albus subsp. albus sp. nov. (type strain, strain DSM 43377). The former N. dassonvillei subsp. prasina is recognized as a close relative of the latter organism and is designated N. albus subsp. prasina comb. nov. Two formerly misclassified species of the genus Actinomyces not on the Approved Lists are revived as Nocardiopsis alborubidus sp. nov. and Nocardiopsis listeri sp. nov. The remaining five Nocardiopsis species (Nocardiopsis coeruleofusca, Nocardiopsis flava, Nocardiopsis longispora, Nocardiopsis mutabilis, and Nocardiopsis syringae) appear to be misclassified, and, on the basis of their similarities to the type species Saccharothrix australiensis, reclassification in the genus Saccharothrix should be considered. Nocardiopsis atra and Nocardiopsis africana were not included in this study.

Transfer of Five Nocardiopsis Species to the Genus Saccharothrix Labeda et al. 1984

Summary 13 actinomycetes species were studied by chemotaxonomy and numerical taxonomy in an attempt to resolve their, until now, doubtful taxonomical classification. The strains were distinguished into two taxa which differed in their cell wall composition, menaquinone, phospholipid, and fatty acid patterns. Two of them could be associated to the genus Nocardiopsis and 11 clustered together with Saccharothrix australiensis, the type species of this genus. Five strains belonging to this cluster have already been described as members of the genus Nocardiopsis (Nocardiopsis coeruleofusca, Nocardiopsis flava, Nocardiopsis longispora, Nocardiopsis mutabilis, and Nocardiopsis syringae). However, our studies showed that they should be transferred to the genus Saccharothrix. The 11 members of the genus Saccharothrix can be divided into 8 different species on the basis of their physiology: Saccharothrix australiensis, Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes, Saccharothrix coeruleofusca (comb. nov.), Saccharothrix flava (comb. nov.), Saccharothrix longispora (comb. nov.), Saccharothrix mutabilis (comb, nov.), Saccharothrix mutabilis subsp. capreolus (subsp. nov., comb. nov.), and Saccharothrix syringae (comb. nov.).

Amendment of the Genus Saccharothrix Labeda et al. 1984 and Descriptions of Saccharothrix espanaensis sp. nov., Saccharothrix cryophilis sp. nov., and Saccharothrix mutabilis comb. nov.

The description of the genus Saccharothrix is amended to include strains having either a type PII (phosphatidylethanolamine) or a type PIV (phosphatidylethanolamine and glucosamine-containing phospholipids) phospholipid pattern. A new antibiotic-producing species, Saccharothrix espanaensis (type strain, NRRL 15764), is described. Nocardiopsis mutabilis Shearer et al. 1983 is transferred to the amended genus as Saccharothrix mutabilis comb. nov. “Nocardiopsis mutabilis subsp. cryophilis” Takahashi et al. 1986 is described as a new species, Saccharothrix cryophilis, based on its physiological properties and lack of high levels of deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness to the previously described Saccharothrix species.

Saccharothrix texasensis sp. nov. and Saccharothrix waywayandensis sp. nov.

Numerical taxonomic and deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness data for several strains belonging to the genus Saccharothrix, which has been described previously, clearly delineated two new species, each containing two strains. These new species can be physiologically differentiated from previously described-species. The name Saccharothrix texasensis sp. nov. is proposed for the species represented by strain NRRL B-16134T (T = type strain), and the name Saccharothrix waywayandensis sp. nov. is proposed for the species represented by strain NRRL B-16159T

Transfer of "Nocardia aerocolonigenes" (Shinobu and Kawato 1960) Pridham 1970 into the Genus Saccharothrix Labeda, Testa, Lechevalier, and Lechevalier 1984 as Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes sp. nov.

I propose that “Nocardia aerocolonigenes” be placed in the genus Saccharothrix as Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes because it exhibits the following chemotaxonomic properties characteristic of this genus: Whole-cell hydrolysates contain the meso isomer of diaminopimelic acid, rhamnose and galactose are the characteristic sugars, and mycotic acids are absent. This species is phenotypically different from the type species of Saccharothrix, Saccharothrix australiensis (strain NRRL 11239), and deoxyribonucleic acid from the type strain of S. aerocolonigenes was determined to be only 10% homologous to deoxyribonucleic acid isolated from S. australiensis NRRL 11239. A description of the species is presented. The type strain is strain NRRL B-3298 (= ISP 5034 = ATCC 23870 = IFO 3837 = Shinobu No. 701).

Saccharothrix: a New Genus of the Actinomycetales Related to Nocardiopsis

A species of the new genus Saccharothrix is described under the name Saccharothrix australiensis sp. nov. This aerobic genus is characterized by fragmentation of both the vegetative and aerial mycelia into ovoid elements and the following novel cell chemistry: type III cell wall (meso-diaminopimelic acid present); galactose and rhamnose present as characteristic whole-cell sugars; absence of nocardomycolic acids; and type PII phospholipid pattern. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the deoxyribonucleic acid is 73 mol%. The type strain of Saccharothrix australiensis is strain LL-BM782Ce82 (= ATCC 31947 = NRRL 11239).