Cyanobacterial community structure as seen from RNA polymerase gene sequence analysis

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology

OSTI ID:111394

Palenik, B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA (United States)

PCR was used to amplify DNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene sequences specifically from the cyanobacterial population in a seawater sample from the Sargasso Sea. Sequencing and analysis of the cloned fragments suggests that the population in the sample consisted of two distinct clusters of Prochlorococcus-like cyanobacteria and four clusters of Synechococcus-like cyanobacteria. The diversity within these clusters was significantly different, however. Clones within each Synechococcus-like cluster were 99 to 100% identical, while each Prochlorococcus-like cluster was only 91% identical at the nucleotide level. One Prochlorococcus-like cluster was significantly more closely related to a Mediterranean Sea (surface) Prochlorococcus isolate than to the other cluster, showing the highly divergent nature of this group even in one sample. The approach described here can be used as a general method for examining cyanobacterial diversity, while an oligotrophic ocean ecosystem such as the Sargasso Sea may be an ideal model for examining diversity in relation to environmental parameters. 51 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-93ER61692
• OSTI ID: 111394
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 60; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
CYANOBACTERIA
EVALUATION
GENOTYPE
RNA
SARGASSO SEA
SPECIES DIVERSITY