Improved Methodology for Identification of Cryptomonads: Combining Light Microscopy and PCR Amplification

Cryptomonads are unicellular, biflagellate algae. Generally, cryptomonad cells cannot be preserved well because of their fragile nature, and an improved methodology should be developed to identify cryptomonads from natural habitats. In this study, we tried using several cytological fixatives, including glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, and their combinations to preserve field samples collected from various waters, and the currently used fixative, Lugol's solution was tested for comparison. Results showed that among the fixatives tested, glutaraldehyde preserved the samples best, and the optimal concentration of glutaraldehyde was 2%. The cell morphology was well preserved by glutaraldehyde. Cells kept their original color, volume, and shape, and important taxonomic features such as furrow/gullet complex, ejectosomes, as well as flagella could be observed clearly, whereas these organelles frequently disappeared in Lugol's solution preserved samples. The osmotic adjustments and buffers tested could not preserve cell density significantly higher. Statistical calculation showed the cell density in the samples preserved by 2% glutaraldehyde remained stable after 43 days of the fixation procedure. In addition, DNA was extracted from glutaraldehyde preserved samples by grinding with liquid nitrogen and the 18S rDNA sequence was amplified by PCR. The sequence was virtually identical to the reference sequence, and phylogenetic analyses showed very close relationship between it and sequences from the same organism. To sum up, the present study demonstrated that 2% unbuffered glutaraldehyde, without osmotic adjustments, can preserve cryptomonads cells for identification, in terms of both light microscopy and phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences.