Taxonomic studies of Acinetobacter species based on the electrophoretic analysis of enzymes.

Thirty six strains of Acinetobacter, 22 strains from the culture collections and 14 isolates from soil and cotton samples, were examined for the presence of twelve enzymes using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A numerical analysis was carried out on the basis of similarity values obtained from the electrophoretic mobilities of the enzymes. The strains used were divided into four clusters (Z-1, Z-2, Z-3 and Z-4), and cluster Z-1 was further divided into three subclusters (Z-1a, Z-1b and Z-1c). The type strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus IAM 12087 (ATCC 23055) and Acinetobacter lwoffii ATCC 15309 were found to belong to subcluster Z-1a and cluster Z-4, respectively. The radiation-resistant strain FO-1, a new type of acinetobacters, was included in cluster Z-3. Superoxide dismutase showed clearly distinguishable mobilities among four clusters, and was concluded to be useful in grouping acinetobacters.