M13 DNA-FINGERPRINTING IN UNICELLULAR AND FILAMENTOUS GREEN-ALGAE

The total DNA of ten isolates of different chlorophycean algal genera was extracted according to a protocol for the extraction of fungal DNA . Algal DNA was digested with up to ten different restriction endonucl eases. In Southern hybridizations, DNA was probed with a digoxigenin-l abelled 440 base pair (bp) fragment of bacteriophage M13 containing a repetitive sequence with a 15 bp core repeat. Stringency conditions fo r the detection of banding patterns in algae of different genera are d escribed. The stability of DNA fingerprints of subcultures of the same isolate was investigated. DNA fingerprints of isolates of the genera Chlorella, Klebsormidium and Stichococcus were compared. The results s how that the M13 minisatellite probe can be used to detect DNA fingerp rints in chlorophyte algae of different genera and to differentiate is olates of the same species.