title: Genetic characterization of Mortierella alpina by sequencing the 18S-28S ribosomal gene internal transcribed spacer region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish a genetic background of Mortierella alpina, which is a cosmopolitan, soil-inhabiting Zygomycete that also has important biotechnology potential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 44 18S-28S ribosomal gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 DNA) regions of M. alpina from three diverse locations (Far East Asia, North America and West-Central Europe) were sequenced and investigated. The sequences between M. alpina and the three closely related species (Mortierella macrocystis, Mortierella gamsii and Mortierella humilis) showed 74-84% sequence identity. When a phylogenetic tree was constructed with a neighbour-joining algorithm, four clades of M. alpina isolates were clearly distinct with high bootstrap values. In addition, isolates from the West-Central Europe were found to have the highest gene and nucleotide diversities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ITS region was a suitable tool for distinguishing M. alpina from other closely related species. The region also provided information of the diversity of M. alpina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study established a genetic background of M. alpina for identification and the diversity of M. alpina provided information for further isolation and screening of the fungus.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020094:Mortierella / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer