Abstract
-
1.
Flexibacter elegans Fx e1 contains 3 pigments; their quantitative proportion is 2.5 : 2.5 : 95%. The absolute pigment content is 0.6–0.8 μg per mg dry cells.
-
2.
Contrary to statements in the literature, these pigments are not carotenoids. This can be deduced from their electronic spectra which lack fine structure and are pH-dependent; from their resistance to photooxidation; from their failure to incorporate 14C-mevalonate; and from their mass spectra which do not show the M-92 and M-106 fragments typical for carotenoids.
-
3.
The main pigment is characterized in detail; it has been named flexirubin.
-
4.
The new pigments are widely distributed among members of the Cytophaga-Flexibacter group and seem to be valuable chemosystematic markers.
-
5.
Specific pigment content of the bacteria does neither change along the growth curve, nor under illumination. Low pH or high phosphate concentrations depress specific pigment content.
-
6.
The taxonomical position of experimental strain Fx e1 is discussed: The organism shows a cyclic change in cell shape. In young cultures there are long and very agile thread cells which fragment later in culture development, until finally only very short rods remain. A redefinition of the genus Flexibacter based on this shape change is proposed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aasen, A. J., Liaaen-Jensen, S.: The carotenoids of flexibacteria. II. A new xanthophyll from Saprospira grandis. Acta chem. scand. 20, 811–819 (1966a)
Aasen, A. J., Liaaen-Jensen, S.: Carotenoids of flexibacteria. IV. The carotenoids of two further pigment types. Acta chem. scand. 20, 2322–2324 (1966b)
Achenbach, H., Kohl, W., Reichenbach, H., Kleinig, H.: Zur Struktur des Flexirubins. Tetrahedron Letters, No. 30, 2555–2556 (1974)
Anderson, R. L., Ordal, E. J.: Cytophaga succinicans sp. n., a facultativelyanaerobic, aquatic myxobacterium. J. Bact. 81, 130–138 (1961)
Fox, D. L., Lewin, R. A.: A preliminary study of the carotenoids of some flexibacteria. Canad. J. Microbiol. 9, 753–768 (1963)
Gromov, B. V., Ivanov, O. G., Mamkaeva, K. A., Avilov, I. A.: A flexibacter that lyses blue-green algae. Mikrobiologija 41, 1074–1079 (1972)
Kleinig, H., Lempert, U.: Phospholipid analysis on a micro scale. J. Chromatogr. 53, 595–597 (1970)
Kleinig, H., Reichenbach, H.: A new carotenoid glucoside ester from Chondromyces apiculatus. Phytochem. 12, 2483–2485 (1973)
Lewin, R. A.: A classification of flexibacteria. J. gen. Microbiol. 58, 189–206 (1969)
Lewin, R. A., Lounsbery, D. M.: Isolation, cultivation and characterization of flexibacteria. J. gen. Microbiol. 58, 145–170 (1969)
McMeekin, T. A., Patterson, J. T., Murray, J. G.: An initial approach to the taxonomy of some Gram negative yellow pigmented rods. J. appl. Bact. 34, 699–716 (1971)
Pringsheim, E. G.: The Vitreoscillaceae: a family of colourless, gliding, filamentous organisms. J. gen. Microbiol. 5, 124–149 (1951)
Reichenbach, H., Kleinig, H.: Die Carotinoide der Myxobakterien. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt. Orig. A 220, 458–463 (1972)
Schwieter, U., Englert, G., Rigassi, N., Vetter, W.: Physical organic methods in carotenoid research. Pure appl. Chem. 20, 365–420 (1969)
Simon, G. D., White, D.: Growth and morphological characteristics of a species of Flexibacter. Arch. Mikrobiol. 78, 1–16 (1971)
Soriano, S.: El nuevo orden Flexibacteriales y la clasificación de los órdenes de las bacterias. Rev. argent. Agron. (B. Aires) 12, 120–140 (1945)
Soriano, S.: The Flexibacteriales and their systematic position. Antonie v. Leeuwenhoek 12, 215–222 (1947)
Soriano, S.: Flexibacteria. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 27, 155–170 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reichenbach, H., Kleinig, H. & Achenbach, H. The pigments of Flexibacter elegans: Novel and chemosystematically useful compounds. Arch. Microbiol. 101, 131–144 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455933
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455933