Heterogeneity of ribosomal proteins among Streptomyces species and its application to identification

The ribosomal proteins from 11 Streptomyces strains representing various numerical taxonomic clusters were compared by two-dimensional PAGE. The protein patterns were specific for each species and were unaffected by acridine dye treatment, suggesting genetic stability of ribosomal proteins. An attempt was made to identify one strain of Streptomyces by both traditional taxonomic methods and analysis of the ribosomal protein patterns. Both methods identified the strain as Streptomyces lavendulae, and protein pattern analysis also showed that Streptomyces avidinii was closely related to this species. The practical application of ribosomal protein patterns in Streptomyces taxonomy was therefore demonstrated.