COMPLEMENTATION OF LECITHINASE ACTIVITIES BY CLOSELY RELATED PSEUDOMONADS: ITS TAXONOMIC IMPLICATION

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Abstract
Bates, Janice L. (University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky.) and Pinghui V. Liu . Complementation of lecithinase activities by closely related pseudomonads: its taxonomic implication. J. Bacteriol. 86: 585–592. 1963.—A lecithinase activity was demonstrated by a mixture of cell-free extracts from two strains of closely related pseudomonads, neither of which was able to show this activity when grown alone. One component, from B-2265 ( Pseudomonas aureofaciens var. nonliquefaciens ), was heatlabile, nondialyzable, and antigenic. The other component, from 22/3 ( P. fluorescens ), was relatively heat-stable, nondialyzable, and nonantigenic. Antisera produced with the component of B-2265 alone neutralized the activity of the complete enzyme made up with both components, as well as that of similar enzymes of related species, such as P. aureofaciens, P. chlororaphis , and P. fluorescens . The taxonomic implication of these findings is discussed. The suggestion is made that determination of the serological specificity of an enzyme or its antigenic subunits is a more reliable criterion for establishing relationships of bacterial strains than methods depending on the overall similarity of biochemical activities.