Cytochrome-patterns of Staphylococci and Micrococci and their taxonomic implications

The cytochrome components of membrane fractions isolated from logarithmic and stationary phase cells of representative strains of staphylococci and micrococci were investigated. Reduced minus oxidised difference spectra at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77°K) were carried out to determine the wavelength of the α-peaks of the cytochromes. In addition, the maxima of cytochromes occurring only in low concentrations were determined by employing the second derivative of the difference spectra.

The investigation of the cytochromes of the micrococci revealed the presence of a-, b-, c- and d-types, that of the staphylococci revealed only a- and b-types. Only Staphylococcus sciuri differs from this general rule, as it also exhibits c-type cytochromes, although in contrast to the micrococci it contains, like the staphylococci, no cytochrome d. According to the characteristic differences in their cytochrome-pattern, staphylococci can be clearly separated from micrococci.