PCR amplification of 16S rDNA from lyophilized cell cultures facilitates studies in molecular systematics

The sequence of the major portion of aBacillus cycloheptanicus strain SCH^T 16S rRNA gene is reported. This sequence suggests thatB. cycloheptanicus is genetically quite distinct from traditionalBacillus strains (e.g.,B. subtilis) and may be properly regarded as belonging to a different genus. The sequence was determined from DNA that was produced by direct amplification of ribosomal DNA from a lyophilized cell pellet with straightforward polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures. By obviating the need to revive cell cultures from the lyophile pellet, this approach facilitates rapid 16S rDNA sequencing and thereby advances studies in molecular systematics.The EMBL accession number for the 16S rRNA sequence is X51928.