ANALYSIS OF RIBOSOMAL DNA RESTRICTION PATTERNS IN THE GENUS KLUYVEROMYCES

Riboprinting was used to determine the relationships among strains belonging to 15 species of the genus Kluyveromyces. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) was amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and subjected to a battery of nine restriction enzymes. Similarity coefficients between strains were calculated based on shared and unique restriction fragments. Cluster analysis revealed three major groups that generally correlated with previously reported relationships based on other molecular data. Variations in SSU rDNA restriction fragments may be used for differentiation of the Kluyveromyces strains included in this study.