Taxonomic significance of differences in DNA methylation within the ‘Mycoplasma mycoides cluster’ detected with restriction endonucleases MboI and DpnI

DNA from 22 strains belonging to the ‘Mycoplasma mycoides cluster’ was tested for methylation of adenine in GATC sequences by its resistance or susceptibility to digestion by the restriction endonucleases MboI, which is inhibited by the methylation, or DpnI, which requires the methylation. Strains of bovine serogroup 7, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, and some M. mycoides subsp. capri strains plus M. capricolum strain Cal Kid lacked the methylation, whereas other strains of M. mycoides subsp. capri and of M. capricolum, plus the F38‐like and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC strains, possessed it. We conclude that this simple test could provide a valuable criterion in identifying these mycoplamas.

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