title: A nucleotide signature for identification of Aglaia stellatopilosa Pannell.
abstract: Members of the genus Aglaia have been reported to contain bioactive phytochemicals. The genus, belonging to the Meliaceae family, is represented by at least 120 known species of woody trees or shrubs in the tropical rain forest. As some of these species are very similar in their morphology, taxonomic identification can be difficult. A reliable and definitive molecular method which can identify Aglaia to the level of the species will hence be useful in comparing the content of specific bioactive compounds between the species of this genus. Here, we report the analysis of DNA sequences in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and the observation of a unique nucleotide signature in the ITS that can be used for the identification of Aglaia stellatopilosa. The nucleotide signature consists of nine bases over the length of the ITS sequence (654 bp). This uniqueness was validated in 37 samples identified as Aglaia stellatopilosa by an expert taxonomist, whereas the nucleotide signature was lacking in a selection of other Aglaia species and non-Aglaia genera. This finding suggests that molecular typing could be utilized in the identification of Aglaia stellatopilosa.
authors.affiliation: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, KM20, Jalan Borneo Heights, Semengoh, Locked Bag No. 3032, 93990, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Belinda Ling Nah
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Mariani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omarzuki
authors.forename: Gilbert Sei Kung
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pannell
authors.forename: Tiong Chia
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Yeo
mesh_terms: D031602:Aglaia / Q000235:genetics*; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D009711:Nucleotides