Taxonomic study and morphological differentiation of an actinomycete genus, Kitasatospora

The history and taxonomic criteria of the actinomycete genus, Kitasatospora, are described. The reasons for a change of the position of the genus in the classification system are given and a restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) method for rapid identification is described. Although the bacterial genus, Kitasatospora, resembles the fungal one, Streptomyces, in its morphology, it is clearly different in its cell-wall composition which includes LL- and meso-DAP, glycine and galactose. Following a change in its taxonomic position as a result of insufficient gene analysis, it was re-established by phylogenetic analysis of the entire 16S rRNA gene. Most actinomycetes produce bioactive compounds but the relationship between antibiotic production and morphology has not been studied in detail. Kitasatospora strains may be used as a model because they grow in submerged culture like those actinomycetes strains which produce bioactive compounds. The authors suggest further studies of the correlation between metabolic and morphological differentiation and the mechanism of the production of submerged spores.