DNA- versus RNA-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of a bacterial community during replenishment after soil fumigation

We compared the responsiveness and sensitivity to soil fumigation of DNA-and RNA-based analyses of a bacterial community. We first established an improved RNA extraction method using DNA as an adsorption competitor, because it is extremely difficult to extract nucleic acids from clay-rich volcanic ash soil (Andisol), which adsorbs nucleic acids. This novel method facilitated RNA extraction from 500 mg of Andisol for molecular analyses. Then we monitored 16S rDNA PCR and 16S rRNA RT-PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of samples collected from a chloropicrin (CP)-treated field over 2 months. The difference between untreated control and CP-treated plots was detected clearly both in DNA- and RNA-based DGGE profiles after treatment. The temporal changes in DGGE profiles, however, differed between DNA- and RNA-based analyses in CP-treated plots. RNA-based DGGE showed quicker and greater changes in the bacterial community after CP treatment than did DNA-based DGGE, which showed similar trends to RNA-based DGGE but with a time lag. The extent of decrease in the diversity index (IT) and the change in principal response curves was larger in RNA-based analyses. These results indicate that the rDNA PCR-DGGE method also detects DNA of microbes no longer alive after fumigation, and that rRNA provides a more responsive biomarker than rDNA. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.