IJSEM Try Microbiology Online
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Fatty acid and mycolic acid profiles
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 695-697; DOI  10.1099/ijs.0.63400-0
© 2005 International Union of Microbiological Societies

Gordonia nitida Yoon et al. 2000 is a later synonym of Gordonia alkanivorans Kummer et al. 1999

Matthias Arenskötter1, Alexandros Linos1, Peter Schumann2, Reiner M. Kroppenstedt2 and Alexander Steinbüchel1

1 Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, D-48149, Germany
2 Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany

Correspondence
Alexander Steinbüchel
steinbu{at}uni-muenster.de


   ABSTRACT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
MAIN TEXT
 REFERENCES
 
The name of the species Gordonia nitida is validly published but its type strain DSM 44499T shares high similarity based on 16S rRNA gene sequences with Gordonia alkanivorans DSM 44369T and Gordonia westfalica DSM 44215T. These three species obviously build up a distinct cluster within the genus Gordonia. In the present paper, data from the literature concerning the three Gordonia species were reviewed and the genetic similarity of G. nitida DSM 44499T and G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T was further investigated by DNA–DNA-hybridization experiments, revealing approximately 80 % DNA–DNA relatedness. Even though the two type strains could be differentiated by automated ribotyping, it is proposed that, according to the rules of priority, G. nitida is a later synonym of G. alkanivorans.

Published online ahead of print on 8 October 2004 as DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63400-0.

Details of the fatty acid and mycolic acid compositions of G. nitida, G. alkanivorans and G. westfalica are available as supplementary material in IJSEM Online.


   MAIN TEXT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MAIN TEXT
REFERENCES
 
Gordonia alkanivorans was first described by Kummer et al. (1999)Go as a novel species isolated from tar- and phenol-contaminated soil of a former tar factory in Rositz (eastern Thuringia, Germany). Gordonia nitida was isolated from industrial wastewater and was demonstrated to degrade 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine (Yoon et al., 2000Go). Gordonia westfalica was isolated as a cis-1,4-polyisoprene-degrading bacterium from fouling water taken from inside a deteriorated automobile tyre on a farmer's field in Münster (Westfalia, Germany; Linos et al., 2002Go). The type strains of all three species exhibit orange to orange-red colonies due to the synthesis of carotenoids.

As revealed by analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T, G. nitida DSM 44499T and G. westfalica DSM 44215T, these species build up a distinct cluster within the genus Gordonia (Fig. 1Go). Furthermore, G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T exhibited identical nucleotide sequences within the hypervariable regions of their 16S rRNA genes (Arenskötter et al., 2001Go, 2004Go). The 16S rRNA genes of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T share 99·93 % overall nucleotide identity, whereas the sequence identities between G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. westfalica DSM 44215T and between G. nitida DSM 44499T and G. westfalica DSM 44215T are respectively 99·71 and 99·78 %. These data indicate the close phylogenetic relatedness between these species. This close relationship is also reflected by the chemotaxonomic properties of the strains. The cellular fatty acids of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T have almost the same composition (Supplementary Table A in IJSEM Online). All three species synthesize C16 : 0, C18 : 1 and tuberculostearic acid as the main cellular fatty acids, but G. westfalica DSM 44215T differs significantly from the other two species by the absence of C16 : 1cis-9, which is one of the major constituents in G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T. Also, the composition and amounts of individual mycolic acids in G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T were approximately identical, while G. westfalica DSM 44215T exhibited a distinguishable mycolic acid pattern (Supplementary Table B). Both G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T synthesize mycolic acids ranging from 52 to 58 carbon atoms in length, with C54 and C56 as the two major mycolic acids. In contrast, the main mycolic acids of G. westfalica DSM 44215T were C56, C58 and C60. The physiological properties of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T regarding the ability to utilize several carbon sources are also more similar than they are to G. westfalica (Kim et al., 2003Go). In contrast to G. westfalica DSM 44215T, G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl phosphorylcholine.



View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Fig. 1. Neighbour-joining tree (Saitou & Nei, 1987Go) based on nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of members of the genus Gordonia. The species investigated in this study are in bold. Names in quotes have not been validly published. Numbers at nodes indicate levels of bootstrap support based on a neighbour-joining analysis of 1000 resampled datasets; only values above 60 % are given. Bar, 0·005 substitutions per nucleotide position.

 
DNA relatedness studies performed previously between G. westfalica DSM 44215T and G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and between G. westfalica DSM 44215T and G. nitida DSM 44499T resulted in reassociation values of 60·6 and 46·0 %, respectively, demonstrating the separate phylogenetic position of G. westfalica DSM 44215T (Linos et al., 2002Go). This species is therefore clearly distinguished from G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T.

The high similarities of chemotaxonomic markers and the nearly identical 16S rRNA gene sequences of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T (1423 of 1424 nucleotides identical) prompted us to reinvestigate the phylogenetic correlation of these species by DNA–DNA hybridization experiments and by automated ribotyping. Automated ribotyping was performed as described previously (Allerberger & Fritschel, 1999Go) applying the RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System (Qualicon). The type strains of all three bacterial species exhibited different RiboPrint patterns resulting from PvuII-digested DNA (Fig. 2Go). Since RiboPrint patterns are strain-specific for many organisms, the relationship of the type strains of G. alkanivorans and G. nitida was examined at the species level by DNA–DNA hybridization as the established method for definition of bacterial species (Wayne et al., 1987Go; Stackebrandt et al., 2002Go). For DNA–DNA hybridization, DNA was isolated using a French pressure cell (Thermo Spectronic) and was purified by chromatography on hydroxyapatite as described by Cashion et al. (1977)Go. DNA–DNA hybridization was performed as described previously (De Ley et al., 1970Go) with modifications according to Escara & Hutton (1980)Go and Huß et al. (1983)Go using a Gilford model 2600 spectrophotometer equipped with a model 2527-R thermoprogrammer and plotter. Renaturation rates were calculated using the TRANSFER.BAS program (Jahnke, 1992Go) and, from two independent experiments, reassociation values of 81·1 and 77·5 % were obtained. Thus, according to Wayne et al. (1987)Go, G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T and G. nitida DSM 44499T represent members of the same species, since the reassociation value was higher than 70 %. Based on the reviewed data and on the additional results presented in this paper, it is proposed that the species G. nitida and G. alkanivorans should be considered synonymous; according to rules of priority (Rules 38 and 42 of the Bacteriological Code; Lapage et al., 1992Go), the name G. alkanivorans is the earlier synonym and the name G. nitida the later synonym.



View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Fig. 2. PvuII ribotypes of G. alkanivorans DSM 44369T, G. nitida DSM 44499T and G. westfalica DSM 44215T.

 


   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 
We are grateful for financial support provided by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (Osnabrück, Germany) in context of an ICBIO project (AZ. 13072).


   REFERENCES
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MAIN TEXT
 REFERENCES
 
Allerberger, F. & Fritschel, S. J. (1999). Use of automated ribotyping of Austrian Listeria monocytogenes isolates to support epidemiological typing. J Microbiol Methods 35, 237–244.[CrossRef][Medline]

Arenskötter, M., Baumeister, D., Berekaa, M. M., Pötter, G., Kroppenstedt, R. M., Linos, A. & Steinbüchel, A. (2001). Taxonomic characterization of two rubber degrading bacteria belonging to the species Gordonia polyisoprenivorans and analysis of hyper variable regions of 16S rDNA sequences. FEMS Microbiol Lett 205, 277–282.[Medline]

Arenskötter, M., Bröker, D. & Steinbüchel, A. (2004). Biology of the metabolically diverse genus Gordonia. Appl Environ Microbiol 70, 3195–3204.[Free Full Text]

Cashion, P., Holder-Franklin, M. A., McCully, J. & Franklin, M. (1977). A rapid method for the base ratio determination of bacterial DNA. Anal Biochem 81, 461–466.[CrossRef][Medline]

De Ley, J., Cattoir, H. & Reynaerts, A. (1970). The quantitative measurement of DNA hybridization from renaturation rates. Eur J Biochem 12, 133–142.[Medline]

Escara, J. F. & Hutton, J. R. (1980). Thermal stability and renaturation of DNA in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions: acceleration of the renaturation rate. Biopolymers 19, 1315–1327.[CrossRef][Medline]

Huß, V. A. R., Festl, H. & Schleifer, K. H. (1983). Studies on the spectrometric determination of DNA hybridization from renaturation rates. Syst Appl Microbiol 4, 184–192.

Jahnke, K.-D. (1992). Basic computer program for evaluation of spectroscopic DNA renaturation data from GILFORD System 2600 spectrometer on a PC/XT/AT type personal computer. J Microbiol Methods 15, 61–73.

Kim, K. K., Lee, C. S., Kroppenstedt, R. M., Stackebrandt, E. & Lee, S. T. (2003). Gordonia sihwensis sp. nov., a novel nitrate-reducing bacterium isolated from a wastewater-treatment bioreactor. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53, 1427–1433.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Kummer, C., Schumann, P. & Stackebrandt, E. (1999). Gordonia alkanivorans sp. nov., isolated from tar-contaminated soil. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49, 1513–1522.[CrossRef][Medline]

Lapage, S. P., Sneath, P. H. A., Lessel, E. F., Skerman, V. B. D., Seelinger, H. P. R. & Clark, W. A. (editors) (1992). International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (1990 Revision). Bacteriological Code. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology.

Linos, A., Berekaa, M. M., Steinbüchel, A., Kim, K. K., Spröer, C. & Kroppenstedt, R. M. (2002). Gordonia westfalica sp. nov., a novel rubber-degrading actinomycete. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52, 1133–1139.[Abstract]

Saitou, N. & Nei, M. (1987). The neighbor-joining method: a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees. Mol Biol Evol 4, 406–425.[Abstract]

Stackebrandt, E., Frederiksen, W., Garrity, G. M. & 10 other authors (2002). Report of the ad hoc committee for the re-evaluation of the species definition in bacteriology. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52, 1043–1047.[Abstract]

Wayne, L. G., Brenner, D. J., Colwell, R. R. & 9 other authors (1987). Report of the ad hoc committee on reconciliation of approaches to bacterial systematics. Int J Syst Bacteriol 37, 463–464.[CrossRef]

Yoon, J.-H., Lee, J. J., Kang, S. S., Takeuchi, M., Shin, Y. K., Lee, S. T., Kang, K. H. & Park, Y. H. (2000). Gordonia nitida sp. nov., a bacterium that degrades 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50, 1203–1210.[Abstract]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol.Home page
S. Iida, H. Taniguchi, A. Kageyama, K. Yazawa, H. Chibana, S. Murata, F. Nomura, R. M. Kroppenstedt, and Y. Mikami
Gordonia otitidis sp. nov., isolated from a patient with external otitis
Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, September 1, 2005; 55(5): 1871 - 1876.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Fatty acid and mycolic acid profiles
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Arenskötter, M.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
INT J SYST EVOL MICROBIOL MICROBIOLOGY J GEN VIROL
J MED MICROBIOL ALL SGM JOURNALS