Isoprenoid quinones of Campylobacter cryaerophila, C. cinaedi, C. fennelliae, C. hyointestinalis, C. pylori, and "C. upsaliensis"

Abstract

The isoprenoid quinone contents of Campylobacter cryaerophila, C. cinaedi, C. fennelliae, C. hyointestinalis, C. pylori, and "C. upsaliensis" were determined by reverse-phase thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography. Ail six of these recently named Campylobacter species contained menaquinone-6 (MK-6), but only C. hyointestinalis and "C. upsaliensis" contained 2,[5 or 8]-dimethyl-3-farnesyl-farnesyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (*MK-6), a previously described novel menaquinone of the Campylobacter genus. C. cryaerophila, C. cinaedi, C.fennelliae, and C. pylori contained an unidentified quinone (Un-MK-6) with a molecular weight of 580 and a base peak ion of mle = 225 by mass spectrometry but with chromatographic properties different from those of MK-6. *MK-6 and Un-MK-6 are important chemotaxonomic markers of Campylobacter and Campylobacter-like organisms.

Polyphasic taxonomy, a consensus approach to bacterial systematics.

“…The study of the respiratory quinone components of campylobacters was of major importance for the revision of their classification. The respiratory chain of campylobacters, unlike most gram-negative bacteria, comprises only menaquinones (37,38,114,217,218,316). All species belonging to the Campylobacter rRNA homology group, including the former W. recta, W. curva, B. gracilis, and B. ureolyticus, contain menaquinone-6 and the so-called thermoplasmaquinon (a methyl-substituted menaquinone-6) as major components.…”

Campylobacter upsaliensis : Waiting in the Wings

“…A methyl-substituted menaquinone which appears unique to Campylobacter species is also present in C. upsaliensis (66). This menaquinone species, known as menaquinone-6, is a member of the isoprenoid quinone family present in the plasma membrane of bacteria and functions in electron transport (65).…”

How Helicobacter pylori Works: An Overview of the Metabolism of Helicobacter pylori

“…They reported the presence of menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and an absence of thermoplasmaquinone (methyl-substituted menaquinone-6) in H. pylori. Moss et al [21] followed with a comparative study of the isoprenoid quinones of several Campylobacter spp. (many now in the genus Helicobacter ), including Campylobacter pylori ( H. pylori ).…”