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Base composition of DNA from symbiotic dinoflagellates: a tool for phylogenetic classification

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Abstract

DNA of eight endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) from seven different host species has been analyzed as to its thermal characteristics and base composition by means of spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. All algae under investigation contain both methylcytosine and hydroxymethyluracil in addition to the bases typical of nuclear DNA. As a result, melting temperatures are decreased, suggesting lower contents of guanine plus cytosine than actually present. True percentages of guanine plus cytosine plus methylcytosine range from about 43 to 54 mol%. They are unique for the symbionts from different hosts, indicating phylogenetic separation of the taxa comparised within the genus Symbiodinium.

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Abbreviations

dA:

deoxyadenosine

dC:

deoxycytidine

dG:

deoxyguanosine

dT:

deoxythymidine

m5dC:

5-methyldeoxycytidine

hmdU:

5-hydroxymethyldeoxyuridine

rC:

ribocytidine

Br8G:

bromine-80guanosine

A:

adenine

C:

cytosine

G:

guanine

T:

thymine

m5C:

5-methylcytosine

hmU:

5-hydroxymethyluracil

G+C:

guanine plus cytosine plus 5-methylcytosine

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

T m :

temperature at the midpoint of hyperchromic shift

CTAB:

N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethyl-ammonium bromide

EDTA:

ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid, disodium salt

TRIS:

tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane

1×SSC:

standard saline citrate (0.15 M NaCl+0.015 M trisodium citrate, pH 7.0)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstrasse 5, D-8520, Erlangen, Germany

    Rudolf J. Blank & Volker A. R. Huss

  2. Institut für Biochemie der Medizinischen Fakultät, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstrasse 17, D-8520, Erlangen, Germany

    Walter Kersten

Authors
  1. Rudolf J. Blank
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  2. Volker A. R. Huss
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  3. Walter Kersten
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Blank, R.J., Huss, V.A.R. & Kersten, W. Base composition of DNA from symbiotic dinoflagellates: a tool for phylogenetic classification. Arch. Microbiol. 149, 515–520 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446754

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446754

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