Metatranscriptomic analysis of autonomously collected and preserved marine bacterioplankton.

ABSTRACT: Planktonic microbial activity and community structure is dynamic, and can change dramatically on time scales of hours to days. Yet for logistical reasons, this temporal scale is typically under-sampled in the marine environment. In order to facilitate higher-resolution, long-term observation of microbial diversity and activity, we developed a protocol for automated collection and fixation of marine microbes using the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) platform. The protocol applies a preservative (RNALater) to cells collected on filters, for long-term storage and preservation of total cellular RNA. Microbial samples preserved using this protocol yielded high-quality RNA after 30 days of storage at room temperature, or onboard the ESP at in situ temperatures. Pyrosequencing of complementa

SUBMITTER: Ottesen EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3223310 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature