Studies on the phylogenetic relationships of melanogenic marine bacteria: proposal of Marinomonas mediterranea sp nov.

The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities of the marine melanogenic strains M MB-1(T) and 2-40 were compared. Both contained a multifunctional PPO able t o oxidize a wide range of substrates. In spite of this similarity, phylogen etic studies based on 16S rRNA sequences showed that these strains are not closely related. Strain 2-40 is not related to any previously described gen us. On the basis of these studies and morphological and physiological chara cteristics, it is proposed that strain MMB-1(T) (= CECT 4803(T) = ATCC 7004 92(T)) represents a new species in the genus Marinomonas. Marinomonas medit erranea sp, nov.