A Simple Synthesis of Alliin and allo-Alliin: X-ray Diffraction Analysis and Determination of Their Absolute Configurations.

A simple method for the isolation of the bioactive compound alliin from garlic, as well as a method for the synthesis of diastereomerically pure alliin and allo-alliin on a preparative laboratory scale, was developed. The absolute configuration of the sulfur atom in alliin and allo-alliin was assigned on the basis of enzyme reactivity, optical rotatory dispersion, and circular dichroism analyses. A comparison of the results from these analyses, in combination with an X-ray diffraction study on a protected allo-alliin derivative, revealed S and R configurations of the sulfur atoms in alliin and allo-alliin, respectively. In addition, the same (1)H NMR spectrum was observed for synthetic and natural alliin. The absolute configuration of natural alliin was assigned for the first time on the basis of the NMR spectrum and X-ray coordinates.

Leptobacterium flavescens gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, isolated from marine sponge and seawater.

Six obligately aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, pale-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated YM3-301(T), HG868, 04PA2 Co4-8B, 04PA2 Co4-99A, 04PA2 018SW-3 and 04PA2 018SW-18, were isolated from a marine sponge and seawater and were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel isolates were affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae (phylum Bacteroidetes) and that they showed the highest sequence similarity (90.3-90.9 %) to members of the genus Leeuwenhoekiella and to Zhouia amylotica. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with respect to members of other related genera were only 86.3-89.1 %. In contrast, the six isolates shared high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.7-100 %) and DNA-DNA relatedness (72-94 %) with each other. The novel isolates were phenotypically and physiologically different from members of related genera. The G+C content of the DNA was 41.8-43.5 mol%, MK-6 was the major menaquinone and i15 : 0, i15 : 1 and i17 : 0 3-OH were the major fatty acids. On the basis of the data from the taxonomic studies, it was concluded that these six novel strains represent a novel genus and species of the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Leptobacterium flavescens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Leptobacterium flavescens is YM3-301(T) (=KCTC 22160(T)=MBIC 06275(T)=NBRC 104141(T)).

Marihabitans asiaticum gen. nov., sp. nov., a meso-diaminopimelic acid-containing member of the family Intrasporangiaceae.

Strain HG667(T), isolated from surface seawater collected at the Kesennuma ferry port in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, was found to be a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium comprising irregular short rods and cocci. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). Mycolic acids were not detected. The G+C content of the DNA was 70 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain represents a novel lineage within the family Intrasporangiaceae, order Actinomycetales, being associated with the genus Kribbia. On the basis of morphological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties of the strain, together with phylogenetic data relating to the 16S rRNA gene sequence, HG667(T) represents a novel genus and species in the family Intrasporangiaceae, for which the name Marihabitans asiaticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Marihabitans asiaticum is HG667(T) (=MBIC07497(T) =DSM 18935(T)).

Sporosarcina saromensis sp. nov., an aerobic endospore-forming bacterium.

Two Gram-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strains, HG645(T) and HG711, were respectively isolated from surface water of a brackish lake and sediment of a fishery harbour in Japan and were subsequently characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains HG645(T) and HG711 are affiliated phylogenetically to the genus Sporosarcina, and they exhibit sequence similarities of 95.7-97.3 % to the type strains of Sporosarcina species. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain HG645(T) and the type strain of the phylogenetically related species Sporosarcina aquimarina was less than 10 %. The DNA G+C content of strains HG645(T) and HG711 were respectively 46.0 and 45.2 mol%. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type (Lys-Glu), major cellular fatty acids (iso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(15 : 0)) and quinone type (MK-7) of the isolates support their affiliation to the genus Sporosarcina. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis and physiological and chemotaxonomic data, the isolates represent a novel species of the genus Sporosarcina, for which the name Sporosarcina saromensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain HG645(T) (=MBIC08270(T)=IAM 15429(T) =KCTC 13119(T)).