RIBOSOMAL DNA RESTRICTION FRAGMENT ANALYSIS OF SOME CLOSELY-RELATED STREPTOMYCES SPECIES

Fourteen Streptomyces species were examined for restriction fragment l ength polymorphisms (RFLPs) of their ribosomal RNA genes. Thirteen of the Streptomyces species studied had been found previously to be close ly related by phenetic numerical classification and DNA-DNA hybridizat ion. Considerable variations in the RFLP patterns between species were evident, although a significant number of common fragments were obser ved. A method was established to increase the number of fragments per strain on a single agarose gel to enlarge the data base available for analysis. Analysis of the RFLPs revealed relationships similar to thos e obtained in previous studies. RFLP analysis appears to be an accurat e and rapid strain identification tool for Streptomyces, although rela tionships based on RFLPs may be valid only for very closely related St reptomyces strains or species.