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

  1. Susan Mbedi1,*,
  2. Martin Welker2,
  3. Jutta Fastner3,
  4. Claudia Wiedner1

Article first published online: 9 JAN 2006

DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.03.020

Issue

FEMS Microbiology Letters

FEMS Microbiology Letters

Volume 245, Issue 2, pages 299–306, April 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mbedi, S., Welker, M., Fastner, J. and Wiedner, C. (2005), Variability of the microcystin synthetase gene cluster in the genus Planktothrix (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria). FEMS Microbiology Letters, 245: 299–306. doi: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.03.020

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Limnology of Stratified Lakes, Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775 Stechlin-Neuglobsow, Germany

  2. 2

    Institute of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Technische Universität Berlin, Franklinstraße 29, 10587 Berlin, Germany

  3. 3

    Federal Environmental Agency, Corrensplatz 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany

* *Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 33082 69922; fax: +49 33082 69917, E-mail address: susan.mbedi@igb-berlin.de

  1. Edited by K. Forchhammer

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JAN 2006
  2. Article first published online: 9 JAN 2006
  3. Received 18 November 2004, Revised 10 February 2005, Accepted 14 March 2005

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Keywords:

  • Cyanobacteria;
  • Planktothrix;
  • Microcystin;
  • mcy-Genes

Abstract

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.

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