Rapid biochemical tests for the characterisation of streptomycetes

Abstract

Eighty-eight streptomycetes representing numerically circumscribed species-groups were examined for their ability to use a range of 4-methyl-umbelliferone-linked substrates. The test strains produced acid and alkaline phosphatases, acyl-hydrolase (C7) but the discontinuous distribution of the remaining enzymes provided information of taxonomic value. Fluorogenic probes prepared from 4-methylumbelliferone provide a rapid and simple means of detecting enzymes in small amounts of whole streptomycetes.