title: Characterization of cyanobacteria by SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins and PCR/RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene.
abstract: Planktonic, filamentous cyanobacterial strains from different genera, both toxic and nontoxic strains, were characterized by SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins and PCR/RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene. Total protein pattern analysis revealed the mutual relationships at the genus level. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16S rRNA gene with reference strains proved to be a good method for the cyanobacterial taxonomy. The nonheterocystous strains outgrouped from the nitrogen-fixing ones. With both methods, Aphanizomenon clustered with Anabaena, and Nodularia with Nostoc. In the RFLP study of Anabaena, the neurotoxic strains were identical, but the hepatotoxic ones formed a heterogeneous group. Genetic distances found in the RFLP study were short, confirming that close genotypic relationships underlie considerable diversity among cyanobacterial genera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, P.O. Box 56, Biocenter Viikki, FIN-00014 Helsinki University, Finland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hantula
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rapala
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rouhiainen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivonen
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S