Variability of the microcystin synthetase gene cluster in the genus Planktothrix (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria)

In populations of Planktothrix, microcystin-producers and non-producers, which are morphologically identical, coexist. In order to develop a basis for the reliable detection of microcystin producers in field samples with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods, we studied the presence and vari...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology letters 2005-04, Vol.245 (2), p.299-306
Main Authors: Mbedi, Susan, Welker, Martin, Fastner, Jutta, Wiedner, Claudia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
biosynthesis
chemotypes
Conserved sequence
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria - enzymology
Cyanobacteria - genetics
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Order
Genes, Bacterial
Genetic Variation
Genetics
mcy-Genes
Microbiology
Microcystin
microcystin-nonproducing strains
microcystin-producing strains
Microcystins
Molecular Sequence Data
Multigene Family
myc gene cluster
Oscillatoriales
Peptide Synthases - genetics
Peptides, Cyclic - biosynthesis
Planktothrix
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Summary:In populations of Planktothrix, microcystin-producers and non-producers, which are morphologically identical, coexist. In order to develop a basis for the reliable detection of microcystin producers in field samples with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods, we studied the presence and variability of eight regions of the mcy gene cluster in 46 Planktothrix strains, including both microcystin-producing and non-producing ones. PCR-amplification products for two mcy gene regions were also found in non-microcystin-producing strains, indicating the existence of natural mutants. PCR-products of the other regions studied were only detected in microcystin-producing strains. Two of these mcy-amplicons were variable in sequence and length. Four gene regions remained that were conserved and specific for microcystin-producing Planktothrix strains, and thus qualified to detect the respective chemotypes in environmental samples.
ISSN:0378-1097
1574-6968
DOI:10.1016/j.femsle.2005.03.020