CHARACTERIZATION OF VIABLE BACTERIA FROM SIBERIAN PERMAFROST BY 16S RDNA SEQUENCING

Viable bacteria were found in permafrost core samples from the Kolyma- Indigirka lowland of northeast Siberia. The samples were obtained at d ifferent depths; the deepest was about 3 million years old. The averag e temperature of the permafrost is -10 degrees C. Twenty-nine bacteria l isolates were characterized by 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, cell morphology, Gram staining, endospore formation, and gro wth at 30 degrees C. The majority of the bacterial isolates were rod s haped and grew well at 30 degrees C; but two of them did not grow at o r above 28 degrees C, and had optimum growth temperatures around 20 de grees C. Thirty percent of the isolates could form endospores. Phyloge netic analysis revealed that the isolates fell into four categories: h igh-GC Gram-positive bacteria, beta-proteobacteria, gamma-proteobacter ia, and low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. Most high-GC Gram-positive bact eria and beta-proteobacteria, and all gamma-proteobacteria, came from samples with an estimated age of 1.8-3.0 million years (Olyor suite). Most low-GC Gram-positive bacteria came from samples with an estimated age of 5,000-8,000 years (Alas suite).