Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for differentiation of closely related species of the “Arthrobacter crystallopoietes” phylogenetic group

Abstract

MALDI mass spectra were generated for the type strain of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes VKM Ac-1107T and for closely related (99.6–100% 16S rRNA gene similarity) halotolerant Arthrobacter strains, as well as for some other Arthrobacter species. Results of the cluster analysis of the spectra were in agreement with the genotypic characteristics of bacteria (DNA-DNA hybridization and BOX-PCR). The data obtained in this study indicate that the halotolerant strains belong to two new Arthrobacter species. Specific peaks which can serve as chemotaxonomic markers of the species composing the phylogenetic group “Arthrobacter crystallopoietes” were revealed.