Open AccessInterspecific, intraspecific and interoperonic variability in the 16S rRNA gene of methanogens revealed by length and single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis
Author(s) -
Daffonchio Daniele,
Biase Andrea,
Rizzi Aurora,
Sorlini Claudia
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13116.x
Subject(s) - 16s ribosomal rna , single strand conformation polymorphism , biology , gene , methanobacterium , archaea , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , methanosarcina barkeri , bacteria , polymerase chain reaction , methanogenesis
Thirty‐seven strains of mesophilic and thermophilic methanogenic Archaea, belonging to 30 species, were analyzed by length polymorphism (LP) and single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) of an amplified 300‐bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene ( Escherichia coli positions 9–331) including the variable regions V1 and V2. LPs and SSCPs were detected between species and between strains of the same species ( Methanobacterium formicicum ). LPs were found in Mb. formicicum DSMZ 3637, Mb. ivanovii DSMZ 2611, Mb. wolfei DSMZ 2970, Methanosarcina barkeri DSMZ 800, and Methanosaeta concilii DSMZ 3671, suggesting the presence of polymorphic 16S rRNA genes in the genome. We propose that LP and SSCP analysis of the 16S rRNA gene could be of practical help for strain identification.