THE MENAQUINONE SYSTEM IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF CORYNEFORM AND NOCARDIOFORM BACTERIA AND RELATED ORGANISMS

Abstract

Cultures (39) were examined for the MK [menaquinone] system, which belong to the coryneform genera Corynebacterium, Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Microbacterium and Cellulomonas, and to the actinomycetous genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia and Oerskovia. The coryneform bacteria had the complex quinone systems composed of MK-8, MK-8 (H2), MK-8(H4), MK-9, MK-9 (H2), MK-9 (H4) and MK-11. The actinomycetous organisms represented the systems of MK-8 (H4), MK-9 (H2), MK-9 (H4) and MK-9 (H6). A heterogeneous nature of these organisms is suggested. Discussions are made on the classification, especially on several groupings.