A complete
phylogenetic tree of Saccharomyces sensu stricto species based on
genotypic microarray analysis.
Laura C. Edwards (1), Manda E. Gent (2), David C. Hoyle (3), Andrew Hayes (2),
Lubomira Stateva (1), Stephen G. Oliver (2)
(1) Biomolecular Sciences, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester, M60 1QD, UK
(L.Edwards@postgrad.umist.ac.uk); (2) School of Biological Sciences, University
of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; (3) Department of Computer Science,
University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
Phylogenetic trees, which provide information about evolutionary relationships between organisms, were initially based on phenotypic characteristics. However, this approach has become increasingly inapplicable to unicellular microorganisms. Alternatively, molecular sequencing data can be used for phylogeny construction. The phylogenetic relationships of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto species (S. paradoxus, S. cariocanus. S. mikatae, S. kudriavzevii, S. bayanus, S. cerevisiae, and S. pastorianus) have been established on the basis of rRNA, but depending upon the region used (18S RNA or ITS), different positions have been assigned to the respective species (Naumov et al., 2000). In the post-genomic era, phylogenetic trees can be constructed on the basis of whole genome information. We have used the method of comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) to construct a phylogenetic tree of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto species, and will discuss our results in comparison to those previously described. The validity of this method is currently being tested using S. cerevisiae strains of different genetic background and the probiotic yeast S. boulardii. The results of this method validation will also be presented. Naumov, GI., James, SA., Naumova, ES., Louis, EJ., Roberts, IN. (2000) Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 50: 1931-1942