title: Phylogenetic identification of symbiotic dinoflagellates via length heteroplasmy in domain V of chloroplast large subunit (cp23S)-ribosomal DNA sequences.
abstract: A protocol that takes advantage of length heteroplasmy in domain V of chloroplast large subunit (cp23S)-ribosomal DNA to identify members of the symbiotic dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium is presented. This protocol is highly specific for Symbiodinium, can provide intercladal and intracladal identification of a particular Symbiodinium isolate, and can detect multiple Symbiodinium chloroplast genotypes simultaneously in the same isolate, making his technique attractive for a variety of research questions. We used this technique to characterize variation among Symbiodinium populations associated with a range of phylogenetically diverse and geographically discrete hosts. We also examined symbiont variation within a single host, the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, from 9 sites in the Bahamas, and we report a previously undocumented level of symbiont specificity for particular members of Symbiodinium clade B in this gorgonian.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260-1300, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Mary Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coffroth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000235:genetics*; D018742:DNA, Chloroplast / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal