Has the FastPrep®-24 System been tested for DNA isolation from blue-green algae?
Blue-green algae also called cyanobacteria are successfully lysed by the FastPrep®-24 Instrument. 2 published studies from Crosbie N.D. et al. (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (2003), Vol 69: 5716-5721) and Steward G.F. et al. (App. Environ. Microbiol. (2004), Vol 70: 1455-1465) report the lysis of cyanobacteria cells with the FastPrep® System for DNA extraction experiments. Crosbie N.D. et al. extracted DNA from 10ml of Synechococcus and Cyanobium cultures using the FastDNA® Kit and the FastPrep® Instrument. DNA was used for PCR amplification. Steward G.F. et al. added cyanobacteria resuspended in a phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol solution to Lysing Matrix B tubes (0.1mm silica beads). Samples were homogenized 2 times for 10 seconds at speed 6.0 m/s with the FastPrep® Instrument. Following phase separation and DNA precipitation with ethanol, DNA resuspended in TE buffer was used as template of nested-PCR assays.
