Open AccessThe Determination of Molecular Weight of Bacterial Genome DNA from Renaturation Rates
Author(s) -
Gillis M.,
Ley J. De,
Cleene M. De
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1970.tb00831.x
Subject(s) - dna , genome , genome size , bacterial genome size , biology , bacteria , chemistry , genetics , gene
A new method is described for the determination of the total molecular weight of haploid genome DNA. It is based on initial optical renaturation rate measurements of precisely known concentrations of fragmented DNA. The theoretical basis of the measurement is presented. The actual state of replication of the genome has little effect. The exact conditions and the effects of DNA concentration, renaturation time, size of DNA fragments, buffer concentration, optimal temperature and % (G + C) have been determined. Several types of bacterial DNA of known genome size were included as a control. As an application, the DNA genome size have been determined of 40 different bacteria. The method appears to offer advantages by its simplicity, rapidity and reproducibility.