Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial isolates from man-made high-pH, high-salt environments and identification of gene-cassette-associated open reading frames.
Environmental samples were collected from high-pH sites in Pakistan, including a uranium heap set up for carbonate leaching, the lime unit of a tannery, and the Khewra salt mine. Another sample was collected from a hot spring on the shore of the soda lake, Magadi, in Kenya. Microbial cultures were enriched from Pakistani samples. Phylogenetic analysis of isolates was carried out by sequencing 16S rRNA genes. Genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using integron gene-cassette-specific primers. Different gene-cassette-linked genes were recovered from the cultured strains related to Halomonas magadiensis, Virgibacillus halodenitrificans, and Yania flava and from the uncultured environmental DNA sample. The usefulness of this technique as a tool for gene mining is indicated.
Ghauri
Muhammad A
MA
Bioprocess Technology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, P. O. Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan. maghauri@nibge.org
Khalid
Ahmad M
AM
Grant
Susan
S
Grant
William D
WD
Heaphy
Shaun
S
D000468:Alkalies; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D044822:Biodiversity; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000382:microbiology; D032023:Integrons / Q000235:genetics*; D008906:Mining; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000145:classification; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
D000468:Alkalies; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic