''Arthrobacter'' (from the Greek, "jointed small stick”) is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
bacteria
Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...
that is commonly found in soil. All
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
in this genus are
Gram-positive
In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall.
Gram-positive bacte ...
obligate aerobe
An obligate aerobe is an organism that requires oxygen to grow. Through cellular respiration, these organisms use oxygen to metabolise substances, like sugars or fats, to obtain energy. In this type of respiration, oxygen serves as the terminal e ...
exponential growth
Exponential growth is a process that increases quantity over time. It occurs when the instantaneous rate of change (that is, the derivative) of a quantity with respect to time is proportional to the quantity itself. Described as a function, a q ...
and
cocci
A coccus (plural cocci) is any bacterium or archaeon that has a spherical, ovoid, or generally round shape. Bacteria are categorized based on their shapes into three classes: cocci (spherical-shaped), bacillus (rod-shaped) and spiral ( of whi ...
in their stationary phase. ''Arthrobacter'' have a distinctive method of cell division called "snapping division" or reversion in which the outer bacterial
cell wall
A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...
ruptures at a joint.
Description
''Arthrobacter'' can be grown on
mineral salts pyridone broth Mineral salts pyridine broth is a selective medium for bacteria that can metabolize pyridine (which is an unusual carbon
Carbon () is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—its atom mak ...
, where colonies have a greenish metallic center on incubated at . Under the microscope, ''Arthrobacter'' appear as rods when rapidly dividing, and cocci when in stationary phase. Dividing cells may also appear as chevrons ("V" shapes). Other notable characteristics are that it can use
pyridone Pyridone may refer to several organic compounds with the formula :
*2-Pyridone
*3-Pyridone
*4-Pyridone
Pyridones,
{{Short pages monitor
* "'' A. wenxiniae''" Sun et al. 2022
* '' A. woluwensis'' Funke et al. 1997
* '' A. yangruifuii'' Ge et al. 2020
* '' A. zhaoguopingii'' Ge et al. 2020