Cyanobacterial Growth, Harvest, and Genomic DNA Prep
Ryan D Ward, Truc Mai, Nicole Pietrasiak
Abstract
This protocol is a method for the growth of terrestrial and freshwater cyanobacteria in liquid Z8 medium and the subsequent harvesting and genomic DNA extraction. Life history traits of these microorganisms such as firm cell walls, exopolysaccharide secretions, and variability in growth rates present challenges to studying their genotype. Our approach establishes a generalizable protocol to grow diverse cyanobacteria under the same conditions and a robust DNA extraction technique that produces high-quality low to medium molecule size DNA for Illumina genome sequencing.
Steps
Biomass growing conditions
Transfer100mLsterile liquid Z8 media into a
- Inoculate with cyanobacterial specimen.
- Set vented cap with a 0.22µm pore-size PTFE membrane to the "open" position to allow for gas exchange.
- Secure flask into an orbital shaker at100rpmbeneath a fluorescent light at 35-40 μmole·m−2·s−1 and allow to grow until confluent or senescent.
- Growth period may vary from 2 - 8 weeks depending on growth rate of cyanobacteria species.
Harvesting and preserving specimens in a biological safety hood
- Gently pour cyanobacterial biomass of a particular species into a labelled sterile 50 mL conical tube (Falcon® Centrifuge Tubes, Polypropylene, Sterile, Corning VWR Cat Nr. 21008-936).
Centrifuge5000x g * Decant liquid Z8 media.
- Add50mLliquid Z8 media to tube, cap, and shake vigorously to dislodge potential bacterial contaminants from the cyanobacteria biomass.
Repeat Step 3 three times
Add a final50mLliquid Z8 media to tube.* Lightly close cap.
- Wrap with foil and place in refrigerator at4for 24 hours to halt photosynthesis and chromosomal replication.
Carefully decant remaining liquid Z8 media without centrifugation.* Retrieve sample from tubes with a sterile inoculation loop (Globe Scientific Sterile Rigid Inoculating Loops ThermoFisher Cat Nr. 22-170-204) into sterile 1.5 mL Eppendorf tubes (Fisherbrand™ Locking-Lid Microcentrifuge Tubes with Polypropylene Snap-Cap Cat Nr.: 02-681-284)
- Centrifuge5000x g
- Remove supernatant Z8 media with a P1000 pipette and discard.
Place tubes into liquid nitrogen for 5 minutes. * Immediately transfer to-80°Cfreezer.
Genomic DNA Prep
Thaw biomass on ice.* Transfer ca. 500µLbiomass per  PowerLyzer® bead beating tube  using a sterile  inoculation loop .
- Place bead tube and balance in the homogenizer .
Equipment
| Value | Label | 
|---|---|
| Precellys | NAME | 
| Homogenizer | TYPE | 
| Bertin | BRAND | 
| P000669-PR240-A | SKU | 
Process samples during four stages, then allow the homogenizer to cool down before turning off.
Apply the following setup:
5500rpm, pause0h 0m 5s
5500rpm, cool down0h 5m 0s
5500rpm, pause0h 0m 5s
5500rpm, cool down0h 5m 0s
- 
Process samples with the , following the manufacturer protocol, with a modified elution step as follows. 
- 
Place spin column into sterile 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. 
- 
Transfer 15µLPowerLyzer® elution buffer to the center of the column membrane.
- 
Incubate at room temperature for 3 minutes . 
- 
Centrifuge 1000x g
- 
Add an additional 25µLelution buffer to spin column.
- 
Incubate at room temperature for 3 minutes. 
- 
Centrifuge 10000x g
Store genomic DNA at-20°Cuntil library prep and sequencing.
 
 