COMPARISON OF RESTRICTION ENDONUCLEASE SITES IN THE SMALL SUBUNIT 16S-like rRNA GENE FROM THE MAJOR GENERA OF THE FAMILY BACILLARIACEAE

Abstract

The nuclear gene for the small subunit (16S-like) rRNA molecule from the major genera in the family Bacillariaceae has been amplified from either purified or bulk nucleic acid preparations using polymerase chain reactions. The amplified gene has been digested with selected pairs of restriction enzymes prior to cloning into the phage Ml3 for sequencing. Recognition sites for the restriction enzyme, BamHl, are present in this gene from Cylindrotheca closterium but not in the species of Nitzschia, Bacillaria, Hantsschia and Skeletonema tested. Cylindrotheca also has one recognition site for the enzyme, HindIII, while the other genera in the Bacillariaceae have two.