Hood, Derek W. (1985) The application of molecular biology techniques to the taxonomy of the pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Molecular biology techniques were employed to help resolve the taxonomic confusion associated with a group of bacteria, the pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs). One technique was the computer assisted comparison of traces from bacterial soluble protein extracts electrophoresed through polyacrylamide then scanned with a microdensitometer. A reliable quantitative system was developed for the automated analysis of the protein extracts by two fundamentally different modes. These were comparison of protein profiles by peak search and position analysis of coincident bands, and correlation coefficient analysis of the complete trace contour.

A second technique involved hybridisation of the DNAs isolated from a number of PPFM strains. A multi-blot system was developed for efficient analysis of multiple DNA samples and various parameters affecting filter preparation and the hybridisation reaction were investigated to optimise conditions. The DNA homology data was compared with that obtained after the protein analysis and from previous investigations and the relative merits of each technique were discussed.

Also investigated were the base composition of the PPFM DNAs, the prevalence of indigenous plasmids and attempts were made towards a phylogenetic analysis of the PPFMs by DNA-rRNA and DNA-rDNA hybridisations. The results suggested that the PPFMs comprise a series of closely related species groups and single member species related at a taxonomical level approximating to that of the genus. The most appropriate generic assignment may be the genus Methylobacterium. Evidence was discussed suggesting that the PPFMs may be most closely related, in an evolutionary sense, to the purple non-sulphur bacteria.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QR Microbiology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Methylobacterium -- Classification -- Molecular aspects, Methylotrophic microorganisms, Molecular biology
Official Date:	December 1985
Dates:	Date Event December 1985 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Biological Sciences
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Dow, Crawford S. ; Green, P. N. ; Gibson, D. M.
Sponsors:	Science and Engineering Research Council (Great Britain)
Extent:	1 volume (various pagings) : illustrations
Language:	eng

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