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Characterization of Phytomonas sp. kinetoplast DNA
Author(s) -
Riou Jean-François,
Dollet Michel,
Ahomadegbe Jean-Charles,
Coulaud Dominique,
Riou Guy
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(87)81511-9
Subject(s) - minicircle , kinetoplast , biology , dna , restriction enzyme , southern blot , homology (biology) , genetics , gene
Phytomonas sp. which belongs to the Trypanosomatidae family, is a pathogen of plants. Its kinetoplast DNA consists of a huge network of about 7000 catenated minicircles of 2880 ± 30 base pairs each. It represents 30–33% of the total cellular DNA. An AT composition of 65% has been evaluated from the buoyant density xxx = 1.694. The restriction endonuclease Hpa II was the only one able to cleave the minicircles into a single fragment. The other enzymes so far tested ( Eco RI, Hind III, Hae III, Bam HI) do not cleave these minicircles significantly. Analysis of the kDNA by Southern blot hybridization shows that minicircles of Phytomonas sp. have little sequence homology with minicircles of other species of trypanosomes. Maxicircles, present in low proportions, have been identified. Our data indicate that the kinetoplast DNA of Phytomonas sp. presents biochemical characteristics which could be used to identify the Phytomonas genus.