Sphingopyxis flavimaris sp nov., isolated from sea water of the Yellow Sea in Korea

A Gram-negative, motile, yellow-pigmented, slightly halophilic bacterial strain, SW-151(T), was isolated from sea water of the Yellow Sea in Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The isolate grew optimally at 30 degreesC and in the presence of 2-3 % NaCl. Strain SW-151(T) was characterized chemotaxonomically as having Q-10 as the predominant respiratory lipoquinone and C-18:1 omega7c, C-16:1 omega7c and/or iso-C-15:0 2-OH and C-17:1 omega6c as the major fatty acids. Sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major polar lipids. The DNA G + C content was 58 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain SW-151(T) joins the evolutionary radiation enclosed by the genus Sphingopyxis. Similarities between the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain SW-151(T) and the type strains of Sphingopyxis species ranged from 92.3 to 94.3%, which is low enough to categorize strain SW-151(T) as a species distinct from previously described Sphingopyxis species. On the basis of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain SW-151(T) (=KCTC 12232(T) =DSM 16223(T)) should be classified as a novel Sphingopyxis species, for which the name Sphingopyxis flavimaris sp. nov. is proposed.