title: Methanotrophic diversity in high arctic wetlands on the islands of Svalbard (Norway)--denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of soil DNA and enrichment cultures.
abstract: The methanotrophic community in arctic soil from the islands of Svalbard, Norway (78 degrees N) was analysed by combining group-specific PCR with PCR of the highly variable V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene and then by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Selected bands were sequenced for identification. The analyses were performed with DNA extracted directly from soil and from enrichment cultures at 10 and 20 degrees C. The two genera Methylobacter and Methylosinus were found in all localities studied. The DGGE band patterns were simple, and DNA fragments with single base differences were separated. The arctic tundra is a potential source of extensive methane emission due to climatic warming because of its large reservoirs of stored organic carbon. Higher temperatures due to climatic warming can cause increased methane production, and the abundance and activity of methane-oxidizing bacteria in the arctic soil may be important regulators for methane emission to the atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tromosø, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wartiainen
authors.forename: Anne Grethe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hestnes
authors.forename: Mette M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Svenning
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D020581:Methylosinus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013538:Svalbard
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D008697:Methane