TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS AND CULTURAL CONDITIONS OF A BACTERIAL STRAIN, AT-25, WHICH PRODUCES A GALACTAN SULFATE WITH ANTITHROMBIN ACTIVITY

Abstract

Strain AT-25 isolated from a soil sample collected in Japan, showed potent antithrombin activity in its culture filtrate. The strain was a strictly aerobic, gram-positive and pleomorphic rod. The properties of the strain, especially the presence of LL-diaminopimelic acid (LL-DAP), tetrahydrogenated
menaquinone with eight isoprene units (MK-8(H₄)), and DNA with 72.9mol% of guanine plus cytosine, indicate that strain AT-25 is closely related to Arthrobacter simplex and Arthrobacter tumescens, while these species do not belong to the genus Arthrobacter in strict meaning. The
unique characteristics of strain AT-25 are requirement of SO₄^2- for growth and the production of a galactan sulfate with antithrombin
activity. The most suitable medium for the production of galactan sulfate was a fermentation medium consisting of 0.05% Na₂SO₄, 2% glycerol, 0.5% (NH₄)₂HPO₄, 0.1% KH₂PO₄, and 0.1% yeast extract (pH 7.2).