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Effect of α-casein on DNA adsorption by Andosols and by soil components

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Abstract

Andosols and the soil components (allophanes, humic acids, and goethite) had been autoclaved to destroy the nuclease activity of soil microflora. DNA adsorption by allophanes and Andosols was decreased by increasing the amount of α-casein added to the allophanes and to soils up to casein concentration of 5 mg ml−1. DNA adsorption by humic acids was significantly increased by increasing the amount of α-casein up to 1.0 mg ml−1, whereas the addition of 20 mg α-casein ml−1 completely blocked DNA adsorption. These results can explain why the addition of excess skim milk is operationally needed for effective DNA extraction from Andosols. The amount of DNA adsorbed by Andosols treated with dephosphorylated α-casein was significantly higher than that of not treated Andosols (p < 0.01), thus showing an opposite behavior than α-casein addition, implying that phosphate groups of the protein can contribute to the decrease in the DNA adsorption by soil components. These results explain that the usefulness of skim milk as an additive for the extraction of DNA from Andosols is due to the presence of phosphate groups and hydrophobic components of casein, the main constituent of skim milk.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. T.Y. Kim for assistance. This research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 22380180). This paper is dedicated to the late Dr. K. Saeki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotron Application Center, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan

    Kazutoshi Saeki

  2. Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Masao Sakai

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Takashi Kunito

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  1. Kazutoshi Saeki
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  2. Masao Sakai
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Correspondence to Takashi Kunito.

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Saeki, K., Sakai, M. & Kunito, T. Effect of α-casein on DNA adsorption by Andosols and by soil components. Biol Fertil Soils 48, 469–474 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0640-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0640-7

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