Corynebacterium cyclohexanicum n. sp.: a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid utilizing bacterium

Abstract

A cyclohexanecarboxylic acid utilizing bacterium, strain MU, has been isolated from soil and its taxonomic and physiological nature studied. The organism requires biotin or an unidentified factor present in yeast extract for growth, and can use one of various acids, alcohols, and carbohydrates as the sole carbon source.As the organism is a non-motile rod, gram-positive, non-sporing, not acid-fast, catalase-positive, and aerobic, it is identified as a Corynebacterium. Various growth and biochemical characteristics show that the organism is closely related to Corynebacterium equi but differs in several characteristics. Hence, a separate species, Corynebacterium cyclohexanicum is proposed for strain MU because of its unique use of cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. Results from manometric experiments indicate that its metabolism of cyclohexanecarboxylic acid is closely related to the well-established metabolic scheme of benzoic acid.