THE MENAQUINONE SYSTEM IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS NOCARDIA

Abstract

The menaquinone systems of 35 strains representing 24 species of the genus Nocardia and its related genera were determined. The genus Nocardia was mainly divided into two groups based on the system of quinones; the tetrahydromultiprenylmenaquinone of MK-8(H₄) was found in N. farcinica, N. asteroides, N. brasiliensis, N. coeliaca, N. minima, etc., and the dihydromultiprenyl homolog of MK-8(H₂) was in N. rugosa, N. lutea, N. calcarea, N. restricta, N. erythropolis, etc. The others were MK-9(H₂)[MK-8(H₂)] in N. polychromogenes and N. convoluta, and MK-9(H₂) in N. rubropertincta. Anomalous systems of menaquinones were found in N. leishmani [MK-9 (H₆)MK-9(H₄)], N. turbata or Oerskovia turbata [MK-9(H₄)], and N. madurae or Actinomadura madurae showing MK-9(H₆)[MK-9(H₈)]. Nocardia gardneri or Streptomyces gardneri agreed with N. asteroides in the system of menaquinone. These results obtained here are discussed from the taxonomic point of view.