Application of SSU rRNA Methods

Mainly two tools are used in the application of SSU rRNA (Small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid) methods - Phylogenetic probes and FISH.

Phylogenetic probes

A probe is a strand of nucleic acids that can be labelled and used to hybridize a complementary nucleic acid.

Probes can be general or specific.

Universal SSU rRNA probes are complementary to conserved sequences in the rRNA of all organisms. Specific probes react only with the ribosomes of species in a single domain.

Such phylogenetic probes can also be designed to target lineages within a domain, such as, members of particular families, genera or even species.

FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization)

FISH is a phylogenetic stain.

When cells are treated with the appropriate reagents, their membranes become permeable and allow penetration of the probe dye mixture.

After hybridization of the probe directly to rRNA in ribosomes, the cells become uniformly fluorescent and can be observed under a fluorescent microscope. This method is called FISH.

This technique can be applied to cells in culture or in a natural environment.

FISH technology mostly used in microbial ecology and clinical diagnostics.

In microbial ecology, FISH can be used for the microscopic identification and tracking of organisms, those organisms are present directly in the environment.

FISH also offers a method for assessing the composition of microbial communities, directly by microscopy.

Application of SSU rRNA Methods

Written By
Sadia Akhtar
Student of Department of Microbiology
Jagannath University.
Email- sadiabd810@yahoo.com

Application of SSU rRNA Methods