HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nakatsu, C. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nakatsu, C. H. Agricola Articles by Nakatsu, C. H. Related Collections Soil Microbiology Soil Biology

MOLECULAR-BASED APPROACHES TO SOIL MICROBIOLOGY

Soil Microbial Community Analysis Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

Department of Agronomy Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054

^* Corresponding author (cnakatsu{at}purdue.edu).

The most biological diversity on this planet is probably harbored in soils. Understanding the diversity and function of the microbiological component of soil poses great challenges that are being overcome by the application of molecular biological approaches. This review covers one of many approaches being used: separation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Extraction of nucleic acids directly from soils allows the examination of a community without the limitation posed by cultivation. Polymerase chain reaction provides a means to increase the numbers of a target for its detection on gels. Using the rRNA genes as a target for PCR provides phylogenetic information on populations comprising communities. Fingerprints produced by this method have allowed spatial and temporal comparisons of soil communities within and between locations or among treatments. Numerous samples can be compared because of the rapid high throughput nature of this method. Scientists now have the means to begin addressing complex ecological questions about the spatial, temporal, and nutritional interactions faced by microbes in the soil environment.

Abbreviations: DGGE, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis • PCR, polymerase chain reaction • T-RFLP, terminal fragment length polymorphism

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. K. Kuramitsu, X. He, R. Lux, M. H. Anderson, and W. Shi Interspecies Interactions within Oral Microbial Communities Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., December 1, 2007; 71(4): 653 - 670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]