Identification of the green alga, Chlorella vulgaris (SDC1) using cyanobacteria derived 16S rDNA primers: targeting the chloroplast

We have tested a set of oligonucleotide primers originally developed for th e specific amplification of 16S rRNA gene segments from cyanobacteria, in o rder to determine their versatility as an identification tool for phototrop hic eucaryotes. Using web-based bioinformatics tools we determined that the se primers not only targeted cyanobacterium sequences as previously describ ed, but also 87% of sequences derived from phototrophic eucaryotes. In orde r to qualify our finding, a type culture and environmental strain from the freshwater unicellular, green algae genus Chlorella Beijerinck, were select ed for further study. Subsequently, we sequenced a 578-bp fragment of the 1 6S rRNA gene, which proved to be present within the chloroplast genome, per formed sequence analysis and positively identified our solvent-degrading en vironmental strain (SDC1) as Chlorella vulgaris. (C) 2001 Published by Else vier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Microbiological S ocieties.