Clusterization of halophilic and halotolerant eubacteria using whole-cell protein electrophoresis data

Total cell proteins of the nineteen halophilic and halotolerant eubacteria isolated from marine sediments and highly mineralized formation waters of oil fields were investigated by SDS gel electrophoresis. The microorganisms studied, phenotypically identified as belonging to the generaDietzia, Rhodococcus, Staphylococcus, Cytophaga, Brevibacterium, andArchangium, were found to form clearly distinguishable clusters (20–33% similarity at the generic level) on the dendrogram derived from electrophoretic protein patterns. Protein similarity data confirmed the heterogeneity ofRhodococcus maris and its relatedness to the genusDietza.