Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans sp nov., a restricted facultatively methylotrophic marine bacterium

A novel restricted facultatively methylotrophic marine strain, MPT, possessing the ribulose monophosphate pathway of Cl-carbon compound assimilation was isolated from a seawater sample obtained from Mokpo, South Korea. The novel isolate is aerobic, Gram-negative, asporogenous and a non-motile short rod. It grows well on methanol, methylated amines, dimethylsulfide and DMSO. Optimal growth occurs with 3 % NaCl at 30 degrees C and pH 7.0. Fructose is utilized as a multicarbon source. Growth factors are not required and vitamin B-12 does not stimulate growth. The cellular fatty acid profile of the novel strain consists primarily of straight-chain saturated C-16:0 and unsaturated C-16:1 acids. The major ubiquinone is Q-8. The dominant phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G + C content is 44.9 mol% (T-m). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness (25-41%) with the type strains of marine methylotrophs belonging to the genus Methylophaga, it is suggested that isolate MPT represents a novel species, Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans sp. nov. (type strain MPT =KCTC 12909(T)= VKM B-2441(T)=JCM 14647(T)).