POLYAMINES OF THERMOPHILIC GRAM-POSITIVE ANAEROBES BELONGING TO THE GENERA CALDICELLULOSIRUPTOR, CALORAMATOR, CLOSTRIDIUM, COPROTHERMOBACTER, MOORELLA, THERMOANAEROBACTER AND THERMOANAEROBACTERIUM

Polyamines of seventeen strains of thermophilic Gram-positive anaerobe s belonging to seven genera of clostridia were analysed by high-perfor mance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Caldicellulosirupt or contained spermidine, spermine, thermospermine, thermopentamine, tw o tertiary branched tetraamines (N-4-aminopropylspermidine and N-4-ami nopropylnorspermidine) and two quaternary branch ed pentaamines [N-4-b is(aminopropyl)spermidine and N-4-bis(aminopropyl)norspermidine]. The major polyamines of Caloramator, Coprothermobacter, Moorella, Thermoan aerobacter, Thermoanaerobacterium and thermophilic Clostridium were pu trescine, spermidine and spermine. N-4-aminopropylspermidine and N-4-b is(aminopropyl)spermidine were found as a minor polyamine in some cult ures of Moorella and Thermoanaerobacter.