Application of real-time PCR for quantification of microcystin genotypes in a population of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis sp.

ABSTRACT: The cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. frequently develops water blooms consisting of organisms with different genotypes that either produce or lack the hepatotoxin microcystin. In order to monitor the development of microcystin (mcy) genotypes during the seasonal cycle of the total population, mcy genotypes were quantified by means of real-time PCR in Lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany) from June 1999 to October 2000. Standard curves were established by relating cell concentrations to the threshold cycle (the PCR cycle number at which the fluorescence passes a set threshold level) determined by the Taq nuclease assay (TNA) for two gene regions, the intergenic spacer region within the phycocyanin (PC) operon to quantify the total population and the mcyB gene, which is indicative of microcystin synt

SUBMITTER: Kurmayer R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC262317 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature