Description of Sphingomonas xenophaga sp nov for strains BN6(T) and N,N which degrade xenobiotic aromatic compounds

The taxonomic position of two bacterial strains, BN6(T) and N,N, with the a bility to degrade xenobiotic aromatic compounds (naphthalenesulfonates or N ,N-dimethylaniline) was investigated. The 16S rRNA gene sequence, the G+C c ontent of the DNA (62-63 mol%) and the detection of ubiquinone Q-10,2-hydro xymyristic acid and the sphingoglycolipid present clearly placed the two st rains into the genus Sphingomonas, Both strains are representatives of one species according to the level of DNA relatedness (70.7%). The strains coul d be separated from all validly described taxa of the genus Sphingomonas, a ccording to the 16S rRNA gene sequence (the highest sequence similarity obs erved was 96% to Sphingomonas yanoikuyae), the pattern of the polar lipids and physiological characteristics. Therefore, the new species Sphingomonas xenophaga is proposed to accommodate strains BN6(T) (= DSM 6383(T)) and N,N (= DSM 8566).