ARS | Publication request: Analysis of a ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) from “Candiatus Liberibacter asiaticus”

Submitted to: International Citrus Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 26, 2008
Publication Date: October 26, 2008
Citation: Deng,, X., Chen, J., Li,, H. 2008. Analysis of a ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) from “Candiatus Liberibacter asiaticus” [abstract]. International Citrus Congress Proceedings. p. 230.

Technical Abstract: A 5,005 bp DNA sequence containing a nearly complete rrn operon of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”, a bacterium associated with citrus Huanglongbing (yellow shoot disease), was obtained by PCR using sequences conserved for Rhizobiaceae in the alpha-proteobacteria as primers. The rrn locus consisted of a 16S rRNA gene (rrs), followed by an intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) containing two genes of tRNAIle and tRNAAla, a 23S rRNA gene (rrl), an ITS devoid of tRNA genes and a 5S rRNA gene (rrf). Comparisons with 988 bacterial whole genome sequences available in GenBank demonstrated that rrs, rrl, and rrf were all related (89-90%) to those of the members of Rhizobiaceae. However, the genes tRNAIle and tRNAAla in the 16S-23S rRNA ITS were more related to non-Rhizobiaceae alpha-proteobacteria. The non-tRNA gene regions of the 16S-23S rRNA ITS and the 23S-5S rRNA ITS did not share significant similarity to any currently known bacterial DNA sequences. A primer set designed from the non-tRNA gene regions of the 16S-23S rRNA ITS showed a high potential for specific and efficient detection of “Ca. L. asiaticus”.