Actinomycetes University of Udine, Mycology Department ISSN: 0732-0574 Vol. 9, Num. 3, 1998

M. LIANJUN and H. RUNMAO

Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R of China

ABSTRACT.

Two actinomycete strains, producers of biologically active substances, were characterised and classified as new species of the genus Saccharopolyspora, namely Saccharopolyspora cerea sp. nov. and S. salmonea sp. nov.

In the course of a search for new biologically active substances, enzyme inhibitors were found in the culture broth of two strains (C2070 and C2456) isolated from soil samples. The present paper deals with the taxonomy of the isolates.

The strains were isolated from soil samples collected in Huangshi (C2070) and Xiangfan (C2456). The isolation procedure was previously described (Runmao et al., 1994).

Morphology was investigated on three week old cultures grown on ISP medium 3 (Shirling & Gottlieb, 1966) by light and scanning electron microscopy.

Physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics were determined according to Becker at al. (1964), Shirling & Gottlieb (1966) Gordon et al. (1974), Lacey & Goodfellow (1975).

The substrate mycelium of strain C2070 fragments on all tested media (Fig. 1). Aerial mycelium is absent on most media, while rare branched filaments are formed on yeast extract-malt extract agar (Fig. l). Spores are ellipsoidal to cylindrical, 0.3-0.5 x 1.0-1.1 µm, and smooth surfaced.

In strain C2456 the substrate mycelium is well developed on some media (e.g., ISP 3). The short aerial filaments consist of chains of spores often connected by Aempty@ hyphal regions. Spores are oval to cylindrical, 0.4 x 0.6-7.1 µm, and show a smooth surface (Fig. 2).

Cultural characteristics of the two strains are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Cultural characteristics of strains C2070 and C2456 (GAA: glucose-asparagine agar; growth very poor on Czapek=s sucrose agar and Gauze=s medium #1)

Both strains show good growth at 28° and 37°C and none at 10° and at 50°C, starch hydrolysis, milk coagulation and cellulose decomposition. Neither strain produces melanoid pigments or hydrogen sulphide, liquefies gelatine or reduces nitrates. Milk is peptonised by strain C2070, but not by C2456.

Sugar utilisation is shown in Table 2. Both strains utilise D-fructose and poorly sucrose, but neither inositol, mannitol, mannose, raffinose or D-xylose.

Table 2. Sugar utilisation by strains C2070 and C2456 (+: positive, -: negative;±: doubtful).

Table 3. Comparison of strains C2070 and C2456 with previously described Saccharopolyspora species (AM: aerial mycelium; SP: soluble pigment; VM: vegetative mycelium; +: positive, -: negative; ±: doubtful)

Both strains show meso-DAP in the cell wall and galactose and arabinose in whole cell hydrolysates (cell wall type IV). Mycolic acids are not present.

According to these results both strains are classified in the genus Saccharopolyspora. In Table 3 differences from previously described species of the genus are summarised (Labeda, 1987; Mertz & Yao, 1990; Etienne et al., 1993), justifying the identification of the strains as two separate new species.

Saccharopolyspora cerea (ce= re. a. M. L.. fem. adj. cerea, waxen, wax-coloured, referring to the colour of the substrate mycelium).

Mesophilic, aerobic, Gram-positive and not acid fast.

Substrate mycelium fragmenting into rod-shaped elements of irregular length. Aerial mycelium scarce or absent. Spore surface smooth.

The species differs in cultural characters from other species in having yellowish to pale brown substrate mycelium and brownish soluble pigment on ISP medium 2. Fructose utilised (rhamnose and sucrose only weakly); arabinose, glucose, inositol, maltose, mannitol, mannose, raffinose and xylose not utilised.

Habitat: soil.

The type strain of the species (C2070) is deposited at the Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics Culture Collection as strain SIIA 951166.

Saccharopolyspora salmonea (sal. mo= ne. a. M. L.. n. salmo, salmon-coloured, referring to the colour of the substrate mycelium).

Mesophilic, aerobic, Gram-positive and not acid fast.

Well developed and branched substrate mycelium fragmenting into rod-shaped elements of irregular length. Pale purple to reddish purple.

Aerial mycelium whitish to grey and to pink on some media. Spore surface smooth.

Arabinose and fructose utilised (glucose, maltose and sucrose only weakly); inositol, mannitol, mannose, raffinose, rhamnose and xylose not utilised.

Habitat: soil.

The type strain of the species (C2070) is deposited at the Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics Culture Collection as strain SIIA 951167.

The authors wish to thank Dr. Zeng Jiayu, the Central Analysis Department of Sichuan University, for the electron microscopy and Mr. Chu Yiwen for the collection of soil samples.

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Labeda, D. (1987). Transfer of the type strain of Streptomyces erythraeus (Waksman 1923) Waksman and Henrici 1948 to the genus Saccharopolyspora Lacey and Goodfellow 1975 as Saccharopolyspora erythraea sp. nov., and designation of a neotype strain for Streptomyces erythraeus. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 37: 19-22

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Lacey, J & M. Goodfellow (1975). A novel actinomycete from sugar-cane bagasse: Saccharopolyspora hirsuta gen. et sp. nov. J. gen. Microbiol., 88: 75-85

Runmao H., W. Guizhen & L. Junying (1994). Saccharomonospora yangshuoensis sp. nov . Actinomycetes, 5: 9-11

Shirling, E. B. & D. Gottlieb (1966). Methods for characterization of Streptomyces species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 16: 313-340.

Copyright 1998 C.E.T.A., The International Centre for Theoretical and Applied Ecology, Gorizia

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