In the PCR exercise you described why we amplify the 16s ribosomal RNA gene. What other genes...

In the PCR exercise you described why we amplify the 16s ribosomal RNA gene. What other genes might help us to identify specific bacteria? In other words, what traits could be sequenced that are unique to bacteria?

Solutions

Expert Solution

We amplify the 16s ribosomal RNA gene to identify microorganisms. The 16S rRNA genes are *ubiquitous*; ribosomes can't translate mRNA without their 16S rRNA component, so all bacteria have it. Because these genes are essential, they are also very *highly conserved*. This high conservation also makes it possible to construct *universal primers* that can amplify 16S rRNA genes from widely divergent bacteria. A nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence is therefore very easy to obtain for a novel bacterial isolate, and it provides enough phylogenetic information to identify the isolate at least down to the genus level, thanks to the huge database of 16S rRNA gene sequence information that is publicly available and easily searchable.

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is another technique to identify microorganisms. The procedure characterizes isolates of microbial species using the DNA sequences of internal fragments of multiple housekeeping genes.

MLST directly measures the DNA sequence variations in a set of housekeeping genes and characterizes strains by their unique allelic profiles. The principle of MLST is simple: the technique involves PCR amplification followed by DNA sequencing. Nucleotide differences between strains can be checked at a variable number of genes depending on the degree of discrimination desired.

About seven to eight house-keeping genes are commonly used in the laboratories. Quoting Staphylococcus aureus as an example, seven housekeeping genes are used in MLST typing. These genes include carbamate kinase (arcC), shikimate dehydrogenase (aroE), glycerol kinase (glpF), guanylate kinase (gmk), phosphate acetyltransferase (pta), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) and acetyl coenzyme A acetyltransferase (yqiL) as specified by the MLST website. However, it is not uncommon for up to ten housekeeping genes to be used.

gladiator answered 1 year ago

Next > < Previous

Related Solutions

You want to use PCR to amplify a 1Kb exon of the human autosomal gene phenylalanine...

You want to use PCR to amplify a 1Kb exon of the human autosomal gene phenylalanine hydroxylase (PH) from the genome of a person suffering from the disease phenylketonuria, which is due to this enzyme not functioning. a) You start with 1 nanogram of genomic DNA in your sample tube. Assuming a human haploid genome is 3 x 109 bp, and each bp has a mass of 660 g/mole, how many moles of haploid genomes are present at the start...

You want to use PCR to amplify a 1Kb exon of the human autosomal gene phenylalanine...

I am writing a lab report on the a nested PCR to amplify the GAPC gene...

I am writing a lab report on the a nested PCR to amplify the GAPC gene of two plants. I wrote a very small introduction on the process of nestedPCR and its specificty but i dont know what else i should incorporate. Can somone help me on how i should write my intoduction what info to use ?

1) Describe the use of Small SubUnit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for the identification...

1) Describe the use of Small SubUnit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for the identification of bacteria in microbial communities. 100 marks 2) Describe how the genetic content of a bacterium determines the bacterium’s activities and behaviours. 100 marks

Why is it important to understand ribosomal RNA in the classification of cells in all three domains?

What is meant by a “house-keeping” gene? Why is performing PCR on these an important control...

What is meant by a “house-keeping” gene? Why is performing PCR on these an important control in qPCR? Will the relative transcript levels of a gene always be the same as corresponding protein levels? Discuss why or why not. What is meant by real-time PCR? In your answer, explain the terms cycle threshold and SYBR green.

what does the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) accomplish? 1) PCR converts RNA to DNA 2) PCR...

what does the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) accomplish? 1) PCR converts RNA to DNA 2) PCR corrects mutation in a gene 3) PCR makes many copies of DNA segment 4) PCR joins short segments of DNA to make one long segment how does the ribosome select the next amino acid to add to a growing polypeptide chain? 1) the ribosome selects the amino acid that can form hydrogen bonds with the mRNA 2) the ribosome selects a tRNA that base-pairs...

Why is the sequence of the gene that codes the ribosomal small subunit so useful for...

Why is the sequence of the gene that codes the ribosomal small subunit so useful for microbial taxonomy? Cells without a functional ribosome cannot survive Ribosomal genes are often laterally transferred All of these reasons are true Cells without a functional ribosome cannot survive, and ribosomal gene sequences are highly conserved Ribosomal gene sequences are highly conserved

Compare and contrast gene expression by influenza virus with that of + RNA viruses and other...

Compare and contrast gene expression by influenza virus with that of + RNA viruses and other – RNA viruses.

What enables PCR to amplify just one location (locus) in a person's genome as opposed to...

What enables PCR to amplify just one location (locus) in a person's genome as opposed to several loci scattered throughout the genome (what gives PCR its specificity)?

Subjects