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Molecular characterization of ancient algal mats from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2011

Doug E. Antibus ,
Laura G. Leff ,
Brenda L. Hall ,
Jenny L. Baeseman  and
Christopher B. Blackwood
Doug E. Antibus*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA Room 3316, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA
Laura G. Leff
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
Brenda L. Hall
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, 5790 Bryand Global Sciences Center, Orono, ME 04469-5790, USA
Jenny L. Baeseman
Affiliation:
International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 757340, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7340, USA
Christopher B. Blackwood
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, 256 Cunningham Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

The McMurdo Dry Valleys possess a cold and dry climate which favours biomolecular preservation, and present the possibility for preservation of biological materials over long timescales. We examined patterns of bacterial DNA abundance and diversity in algal mats from 8–26 539 years of age. Bacterial DNA abundance was inferred from extractable DNA quantity and quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Because damage to bacterial DNA could limit its availability for polymerase chain reaction, the efficacy of DNA repair by a commercially available kit was also examined. Polymerase chain reaction amplicons of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were obtained from seven of eight samples. Bulk DNA abundance and bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy number of template DNA declined with increasing sample age consistent with expectations of accumulation of DNA damage in ancient materials. Clone libraries revealed age related patterns of abundance for some bacterial phylogenetic groups. For example, Firmicutes and several other lineages were abundant in ancient samples, but Cyanobacteria were absent. This points to a biased persistence of bacterial lineages that change over time since photosynthesis was active.

Keywords

ancient bacterial DNAmicrobial dormancyVictoria Land16S rRNA
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , 28 February 2012 , pp. 139 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

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