Analysis of Multimolecular Enzymes as an Aid to the Identification of Certain Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria, using Starch Gel Electrophoresis

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Abstract
Four species of rapidly growing mycobacteria were shown to have multi‐molecular forms of esterase and catalase. The number and positions of bands of esterases after electrophoresis in starch gel were characteristic for each of the species Mycobacterium phlei, M. smegmatis, M. fortuitum and M. rhodochrous. Strains of these species are readily identified within 4 days by the method. M. smegmatis and M. fortuitum had esterases which were still active after heating at 100° for 10 min.