Differentiation of Leuconostoc species by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent d(−)-lactic dehydrogenase profiles

The electrophoretic mobility of the d(−)-nLDH's of Leuconostoc oenos (nine strains), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (one strain), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum (one strain), Leuconostroc lactis (three strains), Leuconostoc paramesenteroides (two strains) and a Leuconostoc sp. were compared using conventional and stacked polyacrylamide gels. A singel diffused d(−)-nLDH band was obtained for each strain on a 7% acrylamide gel. However, several well defined d(−)-nLDH bands were obtained for each strain when a polyacrylamide stacked gel was used. Based on d(−)-nLDH profiles of strains of L. oenos were different from those obtained for the non-acidophilic Leuconostoc spp. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides and L. mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum had similar d-nLDH profiles. The overall d(−)-nLDH profiles of L. lactis corresponded well. Different d(−)-nLDH profiles were obtained for L. paramesenteroides DSM 20201 and the type strain of L. paramesenteroides (DSM 20288T). The d(−)-nLDH profile of Leuconostoc sp. ATCC 21436 corresponded well with the profile obtained for the d(−)-nLDH electrophoretic marker of Lactobacillus leichmannii.