Distinctive electrophoretic pattern of esterases produced by Alcaligenes species

The esterases produced by 34 strains of Alcaligenes faecalis, 16 strains of A. denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans, 5 strains of A. piechaudii and 10 strains of A. denitrificans subsp. denitrificans were analysed by horizontal polyacrylamide-agarose gel electrophoresis. These enzymes were distinguished by their spectra of hydrolytic activity towards 5 synthetic substrates (hydrolytic type) and their electrophoretic mobilities (electrophoretic type). Four hydrolytic types of esterases were produced by A. faecalis, three hydrolytic types by A. denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans, three hydrolytic types by A. piechaudii and 14 hydrolytic types by A. denitrificans subsp. denitrificans. Both (hydrolytic and electrophoretic) properties and the pattern of esterases produced by each strain were used to define 8 zymotypes in A. faecalis, 6 zymotypes in A. denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans, 3 zymotypes in Alcaligenes piechaudii and 10 zymotypes in Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. denitrificans. These results permit precise identification of strains within the four species of Alcaligenes and provide useful epidemiological markers.