Differentiation among Xanthomonas Species by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Soluble Proteins

Abstract

Summary: Electrophoretic patterns of esterases, phosphatases, of malate, glucose-6-phosphate and α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenases, and of other soluble proteins of 69 isolates representing 21 species of Xanthomonas were determined. Electrophoretic protein patterns were generally identical for all isolates of the same species but dissimilar for different species. Most species showed multiple forms of enzymes. The pattern of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase was identical in all species and may be genus-specific. Esterases and phosphatases varied widely among species. In most cases, however, taxon-specific patterns, with slight quantitative variations, were evident. No lactate dehydrogenase activity was detected. This technique appears useful in differentiating among Xanthomonas species which until now have been identifiable only by their specific pathogenicity.