TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON CORYNEFORM BACTERIA

II. PRINCIPAL AMINO ACIDS IN THE CELL WALL AND THEIR TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The composition of cell wall was studied on 112 strains of coryneform bacteria. Strains named for the same genus did not always exhibit the specific composition of the cell wall. However, the tested bacteria were divided into three groups by the presence of each of DL- and LL-diaminopimelic acid (DAP), and lysine in the cell wall, and the strains of each group demonstrated a common taxonomic characteristic. From this fact, the principal amino acids, i.e., DL-DAP, LL-DAP, and lysine in the cell wall were considered to indicate the taxonomic significance of coryneform bacteria.