Rapid DNA Extraction from a Bloom-forming Cyanobacterium

Abstract

A rapid small-scale DNA extraction method is described for the toxic and/or bloom-forming cyanobacterial genus Microcystis, producing enough genomic DNA for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. PCR templates from 43 Microcystis strains were extracted and analyzed by PCR amplification. Sonication was needed for some strains before extraction of DNA using InstaGene^TM Matrix with heat treatment at 100°C. DNAs extracted from all strains used in this study by this method could be used as templates for PCR amplification. Depending on the apparatuses used, DNA extraction, PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis can be carried out on about 50 samples of Microcystis one day.