Abstract
Five strains, NBRC 3271(T), NBRC 3272, NBRC 3263, NBRC 3260 and NBRC 3269 were examined genetically, phylogenetically, phenotypically and chemotaxonomically. The DNA G+C contents of the five strains were 55.1-56.4 mol%. The five strains had low levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 13-51% to the type strains of Gluconobacter frateurii, Gluconobacter thailandicus, Gluconobacter oxydans, Gluconobacter cerinus, Gluconobacter albidus and Gluconobacter kondonii and formed a cluster that was separate from the type strains of the six Gluconobacter species given above in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer sequences. The five strains weakly produced dihydroxyacetone from glycerol, but not 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate or a water-soluble brown pigment from D-glucose and contained ubiquinone-10. The five strains were assigned as representing a novel species of the genus Gluconobacter, for which the name Glucono bacter japonicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 3271(T) (BCC 14458(T)-strain 7(T), K. Kondo). Cells of the type strain are motile by means of polar flagella and the DNA G+C content is 56.4 mol%.
