Molecular identification and characterization of some Egyptian marine cyanobacteria

Molecular techniques were applied to study three cyanobacterial isolates (Spirulina, 
Oscillatoria and Anabaena). Genetic diversity among strains was tested by PCR amplification and 
DNA sequencing of 16S rDNA gene using universal primers and the obtained sequences wase 
compared with those available in the GeneBank Database. Phylogenetic tree was inferred by NJ 
distance method. For more exact distinguishing proof, a set of oligonucleotide primers were 
developed for the specific amplification of 16S rDNA gene from the three cyanobacterial isolates by 
PCR. Both universal primer-based sequencing and specific PCR amplification of 16S rDNA gene 
revealed the same results as the three cyanobacterial species were identified as: Spirulina sp. 
EEW5, Oscillatoria accuminata PCC 6304 and Anabaena variabilis RPAN54, revealing the 
usefulness of such PCR fingerprinting profiles for the identification of cyanobacterial isolates. The 
chemical analysis of cyanobacterial isolates showed that Spirulina had the highest protein 
percentage and amino acids content in addition to considerable amounts of phytohormones. 
Oscillatoria recorded higher content of photosynthetic pigments including phycobiliproteins.